OSHA Inspection: HILAND DAIRY FOODS COMPANY

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Mar 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): The employer did not provide that each employee be protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used.  On or about August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the ladderway platform hole was not equipped with a self-closing gate or an offset.  Employees monitoring and/or checking conditions of the evaporative condenser were exposed to a fall hazard of more than four feet.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,000 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).  On or about August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, 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. This exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5): The employer did not develop a written schedule of actions to resolve PHA recommendations.   On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) was conducted with recommendations but no written schedule for action items was developed.  This exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3): The operating procedures were not reviewed as often as necessary to assure that they reflect current operating practice, including changes that result from changes in process chemicals, technology, and equipment, and changes to facilities in the following instances:   a.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-1F Safe Upper and Lower Operating Limits" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  b.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-1G Consequences of Deviation: Steps to correct-avoid" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  c.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-1J Normal Operation; Daily log" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  d.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-1L Emergency Shutdown; And conditions requiring emergency shutdown" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  e.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-1N Emergency Operations" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  f.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-3B Ammonia Leak Response" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  g.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto,  the employer did not annually certify the "SOP-3G Oil Draining" operating procedure was current and accurate. This condition exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2): The employer did not implement written procedures to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment.  On August 18, 2023, and at times prior, the employer failed to develop an adequate written mechanical integrity procedure for inspecting the possibility of corrosion under the insulation on process equipment.  This exposed employees to anhydrous ammonia release hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2024

Abate by

May 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · 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 in the following instances:   a.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-32, Hansen, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  b.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-33, Hansen, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  c.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-36, Henry, 5600, 3/4x1, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  d.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-37, Hansen, H5600R, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  e.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-16, Hansen, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  f.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-17, Hansen, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  g.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-20, Parker, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.  h.) On August 18, 2023, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and tests on relief valves SRV-21, Hansen, H5600A, 1/2x3/4, set at 250psig. This condition exposes employees to potential anhydrous ammonia release hazards.