OSHA Inspection: MINI MELTS USA, INC.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Oct 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $7,813 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to an oxygen deficient atmosphere:  Production Area:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, employees were exposed to the hazard of an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.  Liquid nitrogen used in the ice cream manufacturing process evaporated into a gas at room temperature thereby displacing oxygen which can cause rapid suffocation and asphyxiation.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii):  Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  Company:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the company had not provided training regarding the hazards associated with liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide.  Liquid nitrogen is an asphyxiant and dry ice produces carbon dioxide which is both toxic and an asphyxiant.  Both hazardous materials were used in the plant.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to crushing hazards:  Loading Dock:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, employees were observed operating a sit-down forklift without wearing the seatbelt provided.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i):  The employer did not 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):  Company:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, employees were observed operating a sit-down forklift who had not been provided with training and an evaluation of their ability to operate powered industrial trucks.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Loading Dock:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, employees were exposed to a fall of greater than four feet along the edge of the loading dock.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,696 · Current $4,687 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(e)(1):  A side-hinged door was not used to connect any room to an exit route:  Freezers:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the walk-in freezers were not provided with side-hinged exit doors.  The access/egress doors were sliding doors that were difficult to move.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(1):  Each exit was not adequately lighted such that an employee with normal vision could see along the exit route:  Freezers:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the walk-in freezers were not provided with emergency lighting.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,696 · Current $4,687 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  Warehouse:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, employees who handled dry ice were not provided with protective equipment to protect from freeze burns.  Several employees had scars on their arms from contact with dry ice.  Also, several employees had fallen due to ice build-up in the freezers.  Cleats or other effective footwear were not provided to improve traction.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):  The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  Company:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the employer had not conducted a Hazard Assessment to determine what personal protective equipment was required to protect employees from tasks in the plant that exposed employees to hazards.  Employees worked with nitrogen, dry ice and cleaning chemicals.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Production Area:  On, or about, November 6, 2023, the employer had not developed and implemented a written Respiratory Protection program.  Employees had been provided with 3M elastomeric respirators to wear while mixing and using drain cleaning products.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Production Area:  On, or about, November 6, 2023, an employee who used a 3M elastomeric respirator while mixing and using drain cleaning products had not been medically evaluated.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Production Area:  On, or about, November 6, 2023, an employee who used a 3M elastomeric respirator while mixing and using drain cleaning chemicals had not been fit tested.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  Production Area:  On, or about, November 6, 2023, suitable eye wash facilities were not provided where a solution of ChemStation 3540 and Perafoam, both corrosive liquids, was mixed and used to clean floor drains.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,929 · Current $6,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(1):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  Plant:  On, or about, September 29, 2023, the employer had not developed and implemented a Lockout/Tagout program that consisted of Lockout/Tagout procedures, lockout hardware and lockout training.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,696 · Current $4,687 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i):  Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:  Break Room:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, openings in the front the Federal Pacific enclosure that contained the main service entrance were covered with what appeared to be FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) panel and toggle fasteners.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A):  For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:  Break Room:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the lunch table was located within the working space for the Federal Pacific electrical enclosure.  The panel was 480 volts and contained the main service entrance.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,692 · Current $3,984 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(7)(iv):  There were damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action or overheating:  Freezer, Bulk Side:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, electrical conduit in the following locations was broken:  A.	 Front of freezer, floor level, near access door/pass through window. B.	Side of freezer, floor level, toward the rear of the building.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  Freezer:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, a junction box located at the floor level in front of the access door/pass through window to the Bulk Side was not provided with a cover.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii):There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service:  Warehouse:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, the power cord provided on the King of Fans pedestal fan was pulled from the motor housing and was damaged and wrapped with electrical tape.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2):The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  Front of Building, Outside:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, a sewer pit had not been marked or labeled to indicate the presence of a confined space.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii):  The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage:  Warehouse:  On, or about, September 8, a small table was stored in front of two 120/208 volt panelboards, both labeled LP4.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.304(b)(4):  Outlet devices had an ampere rating less than the load being served:  Break Room:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, a Hamilton Beach microwave oven and a Black & Decker coffee maker were both energized through the same 20 ampere receptacle (identified by the company as circuit breaker 12).  The combined load of both appliances was calculated to be 21.4 amperes.

Issued

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(D):  Flexible cords were attached to building surfaces:  Freezer:  On, or about, September 8, 2023, an orange and black extension cord that was used to energize heat tape wrapped around a pipe was attached to the building surface with plastic tie-wraps.