OSHA Inspection: AUNT KITTY'S FOODS INC.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms could be compared:   a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor: Employees exposed to noise at or above the 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels were not provided with a baseline audiogram. The employee's dosimeter reading was 149.4 % of the permissible level (90dBa) and was equivalent to approximately 92.9dBa. The sampling was performed for 393 minutes during one shift on 12/18/23. Zero exposure was assumed for the un-sampled period of time.   NOTE: THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Alleged Violation Description	29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor: Employees exposed to noise at or above the 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels were not provided with an annual audiogram. The employee's dosimeter reading was 149.4 % of the permissible level (90dBa) and was equivalent to approximately 92.9dBa. The sampling was performed for 393 minutes during one shift on 12/18/23. Zero exposure was assumed for the un-sampled period of time.  NOTE: THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Apr 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard were being followed.  a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor: Annual audits of the lock out tag out procedures used by the employees when cleaning and maintaining equipment such as but not limited to Beef Cube Machine, Large Screw Conveyer, and Ribbon Blenders were not conducted on or about 9/5/2023.    NOTE:  IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Apr 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not 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.  a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor:  The employer did not provide training on controlling the hazardous energy sources to maintenance and sanitation employees who disassemble, clean and repair production machinery including but not limited to can fillers and seamers, on or about 9/5/2023.  NOTE: IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Jun 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $161,323 · Current $104,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor:  Lockout tagout procedures were not developed , documented and utilized when authorized maintenance and sanitation employees performed servicing, cleaning and maintenance repairs on production lines 1-7.  Employees cleaned, serviced and repaired equipment including, but not limited to, can fillers and seamers, piston holders, and lid feeders, on or about  9/5/2023.  b) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production floor: A Maintenance employee was exposed to amputation hazards when they were removing the blade of the grinder machine. The company's Lock out Tag Out program did not include any procedures for locking out and tagging out this machine. Violation observed on or about 9/21/2023.  NOTE:  IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.  The employer Aunt Kitty's Foods was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1387783, citation number1, item number1 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/17/2019, with respect to a workplace located at 270 North Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Jun 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $76,054 · Current $49,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(2): The floor of each workroom was not maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition.  When wet processes were used, drainage was not  maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats were not provided.   a)270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, Production: The employer did not ensure that passageways and work areas were kept in a clean and dry condition. Food and liquid waste from processing lines 1-7 spilled and accumulated on the floors along the walkways around and between the production lines exposing employees to a slip-trip hazard.   NOTE:  IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.  Hanover Foods Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard, its equivalent, or essentially similar standard , 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1561302, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 5/9/2022, with respect to a workplace located at 1550 York Street York, PA 17331.

Issued

Mar 5, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $161,323 · Current $104,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:    a) 270 N. Mill Road Vineland, NJ 08360, production line 3: The employees were exposed to amputation hazards from an unguarded conveyor belt and roller at the can catching station where employees stand to retrieve sealed cans,  on or about 9/5/2023  NOTE:  IN ADDITION TO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ITEM, FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY OF $1000.00 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 29 CFR 1903.19.  Hanover Foods Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1543718, citation number 2, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on 2/4/22, with respect to a workplace located at 7000 Millington Road, Clayton, Delaware.  Hanover Foods Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1390093, citation number 1, item number 3a, and was affirmed as a final order on 5/11/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 7000 Millington Road, Clayton, Delaware.