OSHA Inspection: THE HILLSHIRE BRANDS COMPANY

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): Unprotected sides and edges. Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must 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 following: (A) Guardrail systems; (B) Safety net systems; or (C) Personal fall protections systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems.  On or about January 16, 2024, at a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees of The Hillshire Brands Company DBA Tyson Foods were exposed to fall hazards of over 4 feet while performing work in the following areas:  b) Employees grabbing bags of spice off the spice platform in room 79 while exposed to fall hazards of over 6 feet without utilizing any form of fall protection.  c) Employees during sanitation stand on a platform above the smokehouse exit conveyor in QX with fall hazards of 5 feet 4 inches without utilizing any form of fall protection.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

1910.28(b)(3)(ii):  Holes. The employer must ensure 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.  On or about January 16, 2024, at an establishment located at N3620 Country Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to tripping hazards from floor holes with a chute attached on meat inspection lines 1, 2, and 3 while working from a platform 31.75 inches from the top of the chute.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(1): Protective materials and hardware - Substantial. Lockout devices shall be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.  On or about February 28, 2024, at an establishment located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to potential caught-in and struck-by hazards while performing setup and maintenance tasks on the Ham Spiral Machines with plug lock out devices, which were easily removable from the pneumatic line.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Protective materials and hardware - Identifiable. Lockout devices and tagout devices shall indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s).  At an establishment located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; the employer did not ensure lockout devices indicated the identity of the employees applying the devices in the following instances:  a) On or about February 2, 2024, in the Fermented Stuff Dept. an employee was utilizing a lockout device that was not identifiable while performing servicing and maintenance work on the stirrer.  b) On or about February 28, 2024, in the Hot Dog Pack Dept. an employee was utilizing a lockout device that was not identifiable while performing servicing and maintenance work on the slitter machine.  c) On or about February 1, 2024, in the Hot Dog Stuff Dept. two employees were utilizing lockout devices that were not identifiable while performing servicing and maintenance work on the NL linker machines.  d)  On or about January 31, 2024, and February 1, 2024, in the QX Smokehouse three employees were utilizing lockout devices that were not identifiable while performing servicing and maintenance work on the smokehouse.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  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.  At a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards during the following instances:  a)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a combo lifter (dumper) in Batch Kitchen Final Grind.  b)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a combo lifter (dumper) in Ham Stuff.  c)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a combo lifter (dumper) in Fermented Stuff.   d)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a combo lifter (dumper) in Hot Dog Stuff.  e)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by six combo lifts (dumpers) in Pre-Blend.  f)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by four combo lifts (dumpers) in Pre-Blend Room 79.  g)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a cart lift in Ham Stuff.  h)  On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards created by a spice dumper in pre-blend room 32.  i)  On or about January 10, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from ingoing nip points and rotating parts created from the conveyor that feeds the packing operations station in Batch Kitchen Pack.   j)   On or about January 10, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from ingoing nip points and rotating parts created from the weight reject conveyor in Batch Kitchen Pack.   l)  On or about December 19, 2023, the employer did not protect employees from caught-in and nip point hazards from the conveyor between the box former and box packager in Bologna Pack.  m)   On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from ingoing nip points and rotating parts created from the exit conveyor on the smokehouse in QX.  p)  On or about January 17, 2024, in the work area of Pre-blend Room 79, the employer did not protect a Mixer Operators from the nip point and rotating parts created by a grinder head.  q)  On or about January 18, 2024, in the work area of Pre-blend Room 102 room, the employer did not protect a Roto-Claw Operator from the rotating claws created by the Rancor.  s)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from projecting shaft ends throughout the QX Smokehouse that projected more than one-half the diameter.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,218 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 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.  On or about January 31, 2024, at a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI, in the QX Grinding Room #161; employees were exposed to caught-in hazards created by the rotating horizontal shafts on the collagen pumps.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends. Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.  At a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to caught-in hazards created by rotating projecting shaft ends in the following instances:  e)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from a projecting shaft end in Preblend Line 1 and 4  divertor conveyors before bin that projected more than one-half the diameter.  f)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from a projecting shaft end in QX Grinding on the tower that projected more than one-half the diameter.  g)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from a projecting shaft end in QX raw pack incoming conveyor that projected more than one-half the diameter.  h)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from a projecting shaft end in QX Raw Pack conveyor motor on line 4 that projected more than one-half the diameter.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,218 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings shall be protected from abrasion, and openings through which conductors enter shall be effectively closed.   At a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to electrical shock and burn hazards in the following instances:  a)  On or about December 19, 2023, the employer did not protect employees from electrical hazards in the ham pack room 123 where conductors entered a junction box with the fitting pulled out of the junction box, exposing them to abrasion.  b)  On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from electrical hazards in the hot dog pack room 129 for wiring to the peeler where conductors were exposed to abrasion from separated conduit.  c) On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from electrical hazards in the hot dog stuff room 56 between linkers where conductors were exposed to abrasion from separated conduit.  d) On or about January 16, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from electrical hazards on the QX raw pack line 3 S Conveyor where conductors were exposed to abrasion from separated conduit entering a disconnect.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(3)(i): Pull and junction boxes for systems over 600 volts, nominal. In addition to other requirements in this section, the following requirements apply to pull and junction boxes for systems over 600 volts, nominal. Boxes shall provide a complete enclosure for the contained conductors or cables.  On or about December 19, 2023, at a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees in QX final pack were exposed to electrical shock hazards with an electrical box that was damaged and had exposed wiring.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $12,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): Guardrail systems. The employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements: Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high.  On or about February 1, 2024, at an establishment located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; the employer did not provide a midrail on the elevated work platform above the North Mixer in Room 32 pre-blend, exposing employees to fall hazards into the mixer.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): Holes. The employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used:   At an establishment located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to fall hazards on the elevated work surfaces in areas such as but not limited to:  a)  On or about December 13, 2023, the employer did not protect employees from fall hazards on the elevated work platform above the North Mixer in Room 32 Pre-blend when employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 8 feet 7 inches. The ladderway platform opening was not provided a self-closing gate.  b)  On or about January 10, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from fall hazards on the elevated work surface above the Smoke House #24 in Room 127 when employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 9 feet. The ladderway platform opening was not provided a self-closing gate.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $12,000 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):  At a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts while engaged in servicing and maintenance tasks. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to conduct the work in the following instances.    a)  On or about January 17, 2024, in batch stuff, an employee did not utilize an energy control device before working on a hopper. b)  On or about February 2, 2024, in batch stuff, two employees did not verify isolation prior to performing work on a stuffer machine. c)  On or about February 28, 2024, in bologna pack on the slicer machine, an employee was conducting setup on the exit conveyor and did not perform energy control. d)  On or about December 19, 2023, in bologna slice, an employee did not verify isolation prior to performing work on a packing machine. e)  On or about January 16, 2024, in hot dog pack, one employee was setting up a peeler machine and did not perform energy control. g)  On or about January 16, 2024, in hot dog pack, two employees were setting up the trays at the head of the line and did not perform energy control. h)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog pack, an employee was performing pre-op activities and did not perform LOTO prior to touching and lifting conveyors. i)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog stuff, two employees failed to verify isolation prior to performing work on the stuffer.  j)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog stuff, two employees were performing work on the east linker and did not perform energy control prior to performing the work. k)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog stuff, one employee did not verify isolation prior to performing work Linker #1. l)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog stuff, one employee did not verify isolation prior to performing work Linker #2. m)  On or about February 1, 2024, in hot dog stuff, two employees were performing work on the linkers in room 4 and did not affix personal locks on the equipment before performing work. n)  On or about December 13, 2023, in pre-blend block grinder room, an employee was working on the block grinder and did not have LOTO applied. o)  On or about January 17, 2024, in pre-blend room 79, one employee left their key in their lock after performing energy control and did not maintain the key to protect themselves. p)  On or about January 31, 2024, in the smokehouse department, employees were not performing LOTO to clean the PK holes in the smoke generators. q)  On or about February 28, 2024, in ham pack, two employees were not verifying energy control prior on the spiral machines before performing work on the equipment. s)  On or about February 1, 2024, in fermented pack, two employees were covering a box machine with plastic and only one employee performed LOTO. v)  On or about February 1, 2024, in QX grinding room, an employee left their keys in their energy control locks and left the locks unattended. y)  On or about January 31, 2024, in QX raw pack, an employee did not perform LOTO before reaching into a packaging machine. z)  On or about January 31, 2024, in QX raw pack, an employee did not verify energy control on the pack machine or cutting knives before performing teardown operations.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine or equipment shutdown [1910.147(d)(2)], isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

May 17, 2024

Abate by

Oct 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Training and communication. Each authorized employee shall 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 and control.  On or about February 2, 2024, at a facility located at N3620 County Road D in New London, WI; an authorized employee performing setup on the hot dog slitter machine in the hot dog pack department was not provided 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 and control.