OSHA Inspection: JOSEPH'S FOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY INC.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $7813.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers was not provided, used, and/or maintained.    a.  On or about August 24, 2023, in the facility, employees were exposed to particulates and hot liquids including water, broth, cleaning, and sanitizing chemicals.  The employer failed to require employees use protective arm, body and respiratory protection to protect employees from burns and respiratory irritation.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a.  On or about August 24, 2023, in the facility, the employer had not verified that a personal protective equipment assessment, which included the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person who conducted the evaluation and the date of the hazard assessment, had been conducted.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment:   a.  On or about August 24, 2023, in the facility, employees were not trained to know at least the following:       1.  What PPE is necessary,     2.  When PPE is necessary,     3.  How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear the PPE,     4. The limitations of PPE, and     5.  The proper care, maintenance useful life and disposal of the PPE.    Employee exposures included, but was not limited to, hot water, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14733.00 · Current $7367.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a) On or about October 12, 2023, in the mixing rooms, employees required to perform mixing operations were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) to 175 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 to 11.7 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3). The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, which included worksite specific procedures, thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses.    The respiratory protection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations; fit testing; procedures for proper use in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, string, inspecting, repairing and discarding respirators; employee training regarding respiratory hazards they are exposed to, proper uses and limitations of respirators; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the respirator program.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed:  (a)  On or about October 12, 2023, in mixing room 4, an employee was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 175 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 11.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3.  The employer failed to select and provide appropriate respiratory protection when the exposed employee was offered only a filtering face piece with an assigned protection factor of 10 times the PEL.  An exposure greater than 10 times the PEL required the selection and use of respiratory protection with an assigned protection factor greater than 10 times the PEL.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a)  On or about October 12, 2023, in the mixing rooms, employees required to perform mixing operations were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) to 175 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 to 11.7 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3).  The employer had not ensured that each employee required to wear respirators had been provided with a medical evaluation.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  a) On or about October 12, 2023, in the mixing rooms, employees required to perform mixing operations were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) to 175 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 to 11.7 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3). The employer failed to ensure employees required to use respiratory protection were provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of the respirator(s), thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training to ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of 1910.134(k)(1)(i) - (vii):  a) On or about October 12, 2023, in the mixing rooms, employees required to perform mixing operations were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) to 175 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 to 11.7 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3).  The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of the required training elements of the standard including, but not limited to, why respiratory protection is necessary, factors that compromise protection, proper fit, proper use, limitations and capabilities, change schedules, emergency use, inspection, maintenance and/or storage, general requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134, and how to recognize medical signs and symptoms.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-01-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14733.00 · Current $7367.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8-hour Time-Weighted Average concentration of 15 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3).    (a)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 6] was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 1.4 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 390-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 90 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects, such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.  (b)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 5] was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 36 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 2.4 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 393-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 87 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects, such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.  (c)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 1] was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 47 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 3.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 370-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 110 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.  (d)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 4] was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 52.5 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 3.5 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 400-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 80 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects, such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.  (e)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 2] was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 67 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 4.5 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 385-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 95 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.  (f)    On October 12, 2023, an employee [mixer, Room 4] was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 175 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) of particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), approximately 11.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 402-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 78 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-01-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a. On or about October 12, 2023, in the mixing room(s), employees were required to add food ingredients to a hopper(s) and containers which were subsequently transferred to a ribbon blender.  Employees required to perform mixing operations were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 21.1 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) to 175 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 to 11.7 times the OSHA PEL of 15 (mg/m3).     In the mixing room(s), general methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:   1.  Provide training to employees on measures to be used to minimize dust generation while handling product and compressing empty containers (bags).   2.  Implement engineering controls including the installation of a dust collection system to be used for collecting particulates generated during the process of loading the portable hopper(s) and compression of empty containers (bags) for disposal.   3.  Provide local exhaust where powders are handled to remove fugitive particulates from the employee breathing zone.  4.  Prohibit cleanup of settled dust particles by use of compressed air.  5.  Administratively limit the amount of time a worker is required to perform blending operations.

Issued

2023-11-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14733.00 · Current $7455.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a.  On or about August 24, 2023, in the facility, employee(s) were exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide.  The employer failed to train all employees on the hazards associated with the use of hazardous chemicals.