OSHA Inspection: W.H. BRAUM, INC.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The employer did not ensure that the floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition. The employer did not ensure that when wet processes are used, drainage is to be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry-standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats are provided.  a) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not ensure that the floor of the engine room was maintained clean and dry. This condition exposed employees to slips, trips, and fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Dec 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, employees are exposed to fall hazards greater than 4 feet when guiding SkyTrack operators who are placing equipment including pallets of filter on the roof of the engine room.  b) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, employees are exposed to fall hazards greater than 4 feet when employees are tasked with conducting filter changeouts and washouts of the HVAC unit for the processing section on the roof of the engine room.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP).  a) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the machinery room complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, IIAR 2 (2014) Standard for Safe Design of Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems, Sections 6.2.1 and 6.2.5 when the machinery room allowed for the passage of air to an area that employees routinely occupy.   b) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the machine room's ventilation system design complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, IIAR 2 (2014) Standard for Safe Design of Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems, Section 6.14.6.1 when the ventilation system design did not include the heat produced by the engine room's heat-producing equipment.   c)  On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the relief valve PSV-40041, 1"x1 1/4", Hansen H5633R, complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, Hansen Technologies Bulletin K109J, 2019, Section - Service and Maintenance, when the pressure relief valve was not removed and replaced every five years.   d) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the relief valve PSV-45251, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, Cyrus Shank Product catalog, Section - Safety Information when the pressure relief valve was not replaced every five years.   e) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the relief valve PSV-57091, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ,  complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, Cyrus Shank Product catalog, Section - Safety Information when the pressure relief valve was not replaced every five years.   f) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that the relief valve PSV-57051, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ,  complied with the employer's chosen RAGAGEP, Cyrus Shank Product catalog, Section - Safety Information when the pressure relief valve was not replaced every five years.      These conditions exposed employees to the toxic hazards of ammonia.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2): The employer did not establish written procedures to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment:  (a) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer failed to develop an adequate written mechanical integrity procedure for inspecting the possibility of corrosion under the insulation on process equipment  (b) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer failed to develop an adequate written mechanical integrity procedure for the inspection and testing of safety cutouts.    (c) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer failed to develop an adequate written mechanical integrity procedure for the inspection of ammonia transfer hoses  These conditions exposed employees to the toxic hazards of ammonia.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 10, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspection and tests on process equipment  a) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve, PSV-40041, 1"x1 1/4", Hansen H5633R, set at 250 psig.   b) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve PSV-45251, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 50 psig.  c) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve PSV-57091, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 100 psig.  d) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve, PSV-57051, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 100 psig.  e) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve PSV-45291, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 100 psig.  f) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve PSV-66071, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 100 psig.  g) On March 9, 2023, and at times prior, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valve PSV-66081, 1/2" x 3/4", Shank 803-LQ, set at 100 psig.       These conditions exposed employees to the toxic hazards of ammonia.

Issued

Sep 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,696 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  (a) On March 9, 2023, at the W.H. Braum facility located in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the employer did not ensure that the operators who worked around overhead piping in the machine room used protective equipment which provides head protection. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.