OSHA Inspection: ACORN FARMS INC

Issued

Jun 27, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $8,539

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(1): Energy control program. The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  On or about March 28, 2023, the employer did not establish a complete energy control program that consisted of employee training and periodic inspections when employees were expected to perform servicing and maintenance activities on equipment such as but not limited to, the Savo Plus M2.0 potting machine.

Issued

Jun 27, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(1)-(6):  On or about March 28, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts during servicing of the Savo Plus M2.0 potting machine. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as LOTO devices were not applied to the electrical disconnect [per the 1910.147(d)(4) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements involving verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

Jun 27, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.  On or about March 28, 2023, the employer did not ensure that the established energy control procedures provided clear and specific details for employees to safely and effectively control all hazardous energies when performing servicing and maintenance on machines and equipment.

Issued

Jun 27, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $8,539

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  On or about March 28, 2023, the employer did not ensure all employees completed the required training and evaluation before allowing them to operate forklifts.

Issued

Jun 27, 2023

Abate by

Jul 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $8,539

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  a. On or about March 28, 2023, the Davis mixing machine in the greenhouse area, did not have guards in place to prevent employees from reaching into moving parts when the soil door was open, and the machine was in operation.   b. On or about March 28, 2023, the Davis Batch Mixer in the container production area, did not have guards in place to prevent employees from reaching into the moving parts when the soil door was open, and the machine was in operation. On or about March 21, 2023, an employee sustained an amputation of the hand when they reached into the soil door area.  c. On or about March 28, 2023,  the  potting machine in container production area, did not have guards in place to prevent employees from reaching into the soil screw.