OSHA Inspection: ARLA FOODS PRODUCTION, LLC.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:  On or about June 6, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, Wisconsin; the employer did not adequately train employees in their energy control program to ensure employees had the knowledge and skills to apply, use, and remove energy controls when engaged in servicing and maintenance work.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a) On or about June 6, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in sanitation and cleaning activities on the Line 4 equipment. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to press the emergency stop button and remove covers from the machinery. The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  b) On or about June 6, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in sanitation and cleaning activities on the 7 Ounce Line. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to not de-energize equipment in the immediate vicinity. The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  c) On or about August 31, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in box and product unjamming activities on the Bulk Line - Box Packer. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to not de-energize equipment in the immediate vicinity. The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.   As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

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 August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department on the 7 Ounce Line; on Wrapper #1 employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards from the automatic film reel belt and pulley meter was not guarded to prevent inadvertent employee exposure.   b) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department on the 7 Ounce Line; on Wrapper #2 employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards from the automatic film reel belt and pulley meter was not guarded to prevent inadvertent employee exposure.   c) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department on the 7 Ounce Line; on Wrapper #1 employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards from the unguarded in-running nip point created from the wrapper outfeed belt and the end roller.   d) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department on the 7 Ounce Line; on Wrapper #2 employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards from the unguarded in-running nip point created from the wrapper outfeed belt and the end roller.  e) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Gouda CAS Department; employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards created by the automatic lid transfer carriage wheels rolling back and forth against the solid metal frame.   f) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Gouda CAS Department; employees were exposed to potential pinch point and/or crushing hazards created by the unguarded automatic bin arm and the stationary end frame immediately adjacent to the walk-way.  g) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Gouda CAS Department; employees were exposed to potential pinch point hazards from the unguarded automatic bin press system/lines immediately adjacent to the walk-way.   h) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Havarti CAS Department; employees standing at the control panel immediately adjacent to the brine trough, were exposed to potential in-running nip point hazard from the unguarded belt and roller feeding the trough system.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:   a) On or about June 6, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department at the 7 Ounce Line; employees operating the Wrapper #1 machine were exposed to rotating parts and pinch point hazards from the unguarded rotating circular cheese fixture and the solid machine base.   b) On or about June 6, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Packaging Department at the 7 Ounce Line; employees operating the Wrapper #2 machine were exposed to rotating parts and pinch point hazards from the unguarded rotating circular cheese fixture and the solid machine base.  c) On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI at the Bulk Line; employees operating the Cheese Block Cutter were exposed to potential shear and/or cutting hazards from the downward guillotine cutting blade not being fully enclosed and/or guarded to prevent inadvertent access by the operator.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,590 · Current $5,313 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling:   On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Bulk Packaging Department; a hanging pendant consisted of a metal handi-box that was not installed to the equipment's manufacturer's listing and labeling. The metal knockout tabs were beginning to separate from the enclosure.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(f)(7): Strength criteria.  Handrails and the top rails of stair rail systems are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in any downward or outward direction within 2 inches (5 cm) of any point along the top edge of the rail:   On or about May 11, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the B-Plant; The stair railing leading into the holding tank room was severely deteriorated at the base of the stair railing. One side of the metal tubing used to construct the post was deteriorated.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed:   On or about May 11, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI; the employer had not conducted a periodic inspection of their lockout procedures to ensure the requirements of the standard were being followed by authorized employees.

Issued

Sep 29, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(2): General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself:   On or about August 31, 2023, at a workplace located at 489 Holland Court, Kaukauna, WI in the Gouda CAS Department; stationary expanded metal guards placed along the exterior of the system in close proximity to the bin return were not affixed to the perimeter framing. The frames were hung on pins protruding out of the top of the framing.