OSHA Inspection: CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,140 · Current $10,140

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.25(b)(2): Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction is at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm), as measured from the leading edge of the tread;   a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Sludge Press Building, there was an overhead obstruction, at a height of approximately 49-1/4 inches above the leading edge of the third stair tread, caused by a sludge discharge pipe running across the stairs that was used for access to the platform, thereby exposing employees to trip/fall hazards when ascending and descending the stairs.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,140 · Current $10,140

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11)(ii): Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers is equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as follows: (see TABLE D-2)  a. On or about August 7, 2023, the stairs on the Foodmate Deboner # 1 (CP908), did not have a stair rail system on the deboner machine side as ascending the stairs, thereby exposing employees to fall hazards due to the unprotected side.  b. On or about August 7, 2023, the stairs on the Foodmate Deboner # 2 (CP909), did not have a stair rail system on the deboner machine side as ascending the stairs, thereby exposing employees to fall hazards due to the unprotected side.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $16,131

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 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts of hydraulic lifting arms, in-going nip points of unguarded chains and sprockets, caught-between hazards between moving cages and gravity from cages on lifted hydraulic lifting arms on the Bright Cage Dump System platform while dislodging stuck cages. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from caught-in and caught-between hazards.  b. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts of hydraulic lifting arms and in-going nip points of unguarded chains and sprockets on the Bright Cage Dump System platform while removing stuck chickens. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from caught-in and caught-between hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism when he or she begins work, and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained.  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, the employer did not ensure that all employees that performed the unjamming of stuck chicken cages on the Bright Cage Dump System affixed a lock to a group lockout device or comparable mechanism prior to performing work, thereby exposing employees to caught-between and/or caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $12,676

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 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department on the Bright Cage Dump System platform, there was a vertical steel post on the hinged side of the platform's access door, near the operator controls, that in part created a shearing action between the vertical post and the live chicken cages that would traverse from the cage dump area to the opposite side of the platform exposing employees to caught-between hazards.   b. On or about August 21, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department at the Live Hang Conveyor, there was an ingoing nip point between the conveyor belt and its end roller that was not guarded exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $12,676

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 August 21, 2023, located in 2nd Processing at Foodmate Deboner #1 (CP908), the employer did not guard point-of-operation hazards on the bottom of the deboner, thereby exposing employees to struck-by and caught-between hazards.   b. On or about August 21, 2023, located in 2nd Processing at Foodmate Deboner #2 (CP909), the employer did not guard point-of-operation hazards on the bottom of the deboner, thereby exposing employees to struck-by and caught-between hazards

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $12,676

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3): Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.  a. On or about August 21, 20203, located in the Live Hang Department at the bottom of the Cage Dump, there was a chain and sprocket approximately 20 inches above the floor that was not enclosed, thereby exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,211 · Current $15,211

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(h)(1): All projecting keys, setscrews, and other projections in revolving parts shall be removed or made flush or guarded by metal cover. This subparagraph does not apply to keys or setscrews within gear or sprocket casings or other enclosures, nor to keys, setscrews, or oilcups in hubs of pulleys less than twenty (20) inches in diameter where they are within the plane of the rim of the pulley.  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located at the Cantrell Line 1 wings conveyor, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards due to an unprotected rotating shaft end with protruding setscrews.  b. On or about August 28, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards due to an unprotected rotating shaft with a protruding setscrew on the Death-On-Arrival (DOA) conveyor.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $76,054 · Current $76,054

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(3)(ii): Each employee is protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems;  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department on the Cage Dump platform, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from stepping into two approximately 9 inch wide by 26 inches long floor holes that ranged from 22 to 45 inches in depth where floor hole covers had been previously removed, exposing employees to trip and fall hazards at the same level.   b. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department on the Cage Dump platform, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from stepping into two approximately 9 inch wide by 46 inches long floor holes, and were approximately 22 inches in depth, that were open when the hydraulic lifting arms were in the up position, exposing employees to trip and fall hazards at the same level.  Case Farms Processing, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of its equivalent Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1040829, citation number 1, item number 5. This citation as amended pursuant to settlement agreement as citation 4, item 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on March 21, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 1818 County Road 160, Winesburg, OH 44690.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $63,382 · Current $63,382

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 including, but not limited to, the following:  a. On or about August 7, 2023, the employer did not ensure the control of hazardous energy procedure for the Bright Cage Dump System clearly and specifically outlined the techniques to safely utilize the control of hazardous energy and protect from unexpected energization or release of stored energy of the equipment. The procedure did not include the magnitude for the hydraulics, gravity as a source of energy, a specific statement of intended use (per 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A)); specific procedure step to identify the hydraulic return valve to leave open, and the specific procedural step for blocking or otherwise securing the gravity of the cages when on hydraulic lifting arms.  b. On or about August 21, 2023, the employer did not ensure the control of hazardous energy procedure for the Foodmate Deboner #1 and #2 (CP908 & CP909) clearly and specifically outlined the techniques to safely utilize and protect from unexpected energization or release of stored energy of the equipment. The procedure did not include a 45-55 psi air valve as an isolation point to be isolated prior to service and maintenance on equipment.   Case Farms was previously cited for an Other-Than-Serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 1910.147(c)(4)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1527443, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on August 27, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 1925 30th St. NE, Canton, Ohio 44705.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $161,323 · Current $161,323

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A):Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, employees performed the unjamming of stuck cages on the Cage Dump Platform without being trained to the authorized level to safely perform lockout/tagout, thereby exposing employees to caught-in and/or caught-between hazards.   Case Farms Processing, Inc. was previously cited for a Repeat violation of its equivalent Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1040829, citation number 3, item number 6. This citation was amended pursuant to settlement as citation 5, item 1a and was affirmed as a final order on March 21, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 1818 County Road 160, Winesburg, Ohio 44690.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $1,267 · Current $1,267

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i):Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.   a. On or about August 21, 2023, located in the Box Room, the employer did not develop, document and utilize an energy control procedure for two Nordson Problue 10 glue machines that were interconnected to cardboard box machines.  Case Farms Processing, Inc., was previously cited for a Repeat violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1048762, citation number 3, item number 2, and was affirmed as final order on March 21, 2019, with respect to workplace located at 1925 30th Street NE, Canton, Ohio 44705.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $506 · Current $506

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B): The width of working space in front of the electric equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the working space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels; and   a. On or about August 21, 2023, located in the New Box Room, a Nordson glue machine for New Box Machine # 2, was located 17 inches from the front of the 480 VAC New Box Machine # 1 control panel, which did not permit at least a 90-degree opening of the equipment door.  Case Farms Processing, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of its equivalent Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1040829, citation number 1, item number 23. This citation was amended pursuant to settlement as citation 3, item 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on March 21, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 1818 County Road 160, Winesburg, OH 44690.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $1,267 · Current $1,267

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.  a. On or about August 7, 2023, located in the Live Hang Department, a flexible cord was used as fixed wiring for the Death-On-Arrival (DOA) conveyor drive motor.   Case Farms Processing, Inc. was previously cited for a Repeat violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1040829, citation number 3, item number 15. This citation was amended pursuant to settlement as citation 3, item 1a, and was affirmed as a final order on March 21, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 1818 County Road 160, Winesburg, OH 44690.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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).  a. On or about August 7, 2023, the employer did not ensure Mechanical Separated Chicken (MSC) employees had been trained and evaluated to operate a motorized hand truck prior to operation.