OSHA Inspection: VANEE FOODS COMPANY

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,913 · Current $4,500 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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and/or splash hazards when using damaged hoist safety latch and when using an unmarked pendant control.     (a) Retort Department: On November 14, 2023, employees were operating hoists including four Coffing 1/2-ton hoist to lift baskets in and out of retort ovens weighing approximately 100-300 pounds using pendant control boxes that were not marked to indicate their function.    Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct these hazards is to follow the guidelines in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.17 "Cranes and Monorails (With Underhung Trolley or Bridge)- Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings" 2020, Section 17-1.1.7 Controls, General Construction and Installation. Each controller shall be legibly marked to indicate the function and direction of movement.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):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):  (a) Mezzanine Palletizer: On November 14, 2023, employees working on the empty can line mezzanine palletizer were approximately 10 feet above the ground with unprotected edges exposing employees to fall hazards.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d):The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  (a) Cook Room - On November 20, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when disassembling parts for sanitation purposes on the Number 1 Weiler Model 6 Grinder. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not locked out to disassemble/assemble equipment to perform sanitation duties [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving dissipation machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $10,000 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) Cook Room: On or about November 14, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards when operating unguarded cook room augers.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.