OSHA Inspection: DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $11,524

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(3)(ii): (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 November 3, 2023, at an establishment located at W694 White Ridge Road in Berlin, Wisconsin, employees of Darling Ingredients Inc. were exposed to slip, trip, and fall hazards from a floor drain that had homemade holes cut larger than 2 inches in diameter.  b) On or about November 3, 2023, at an establishment located at W694 White Ridge Road in Berlin, Wisconsin, employees of Darling Ingredients Inc. were exposed to fall hazards of over 10 feet while working at the top of the tower to pull the cover off the top and were not protected by falls.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $11,524

General-duty citation text

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.  On or about November 3rd, 2023, at an establishment located at W694 White Ridge Road in Berlin, Wisconsin, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they were cleaning the filters on the filter press. Employer did not provide a machine guard to prevent access to the filter press takeaway auger.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.219(c)(2)(i) All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.  a)  On or about November 3, 2023, the employer did not protect employees from the exposed horizontal motor shaft bearing on a motor in the mezzanine of the press room.   b)  On or about February  21, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from the exposed horizontal motor shaft on a motor at the second grind station below the screw.   c)  On or about November 3, 2023, the employer did not protect employees from the exposed horizontal motor shaft on the break in the shaker room.  d) On or about November 3, 2023, at an establishment located at W694 White Ridge Road in Berlin, Wisconsin, employees of Darling Ingredients Inc. were exposed to guards that were not affixed or secured elsewhere to the machine in the press area downstairs.  A centrifuge had a guard that was not affixed to the machine that was being held in place by a ratchet strap, exposing employees to rotating shafting and linkage from the motor to the pump.  e) On or about November 3, 2023, at an establishment located at W694 White Ridge Road in Berlin, Wisconsin, the employer did not protect employees from the projecting shaft ends of a motor located at the sample port outside the back door of the shaker room before the silos.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,218 · Current $9,218

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.  On or about November 03, 2023, employees were utilizing an electronic valve control solenoid that did not have an electrical outlet installed with the manufacturer's instructions.