OSHA Inspection: BELGIOIOSO CHEESE, INC.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7052.00 · Current $5289.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10):  Any ladder with structural or other defects is immediately tagged "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or with similar language in accordance with �1910.145 and removed from service until repaired in accordance with �1910.22(d), or replaced;  At an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  During May 2024, in the North Addition by Mixer #5, a RockRiver 8 foot step ladder was not removed from service due to damage to the spreader bars and rust build up on the side latch.  Employees were exposed to fall hazards while flushing out the line.  (b)  On or about May 20, 2024, in the North Addition by Mixer 5, a Husky 6 foot step ladder was not removed from service due to damaged spreader bars held together with a bolts and nut and rust build up on both side latches.  Employees were exposed to fall hazards while performing sanitation activities.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7052.00 · Current $5289.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1):  The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.  On or about April 24, 2024,  at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in Freedom 1 Area Steam Cooker on Line 2; while breaking down the moulder, the employee did not utilize eye protection while there was overspray of the Lift III Alkaline Cleaner used on the Steam Cooker exposing employees to eye injuries from a corrosive chemical.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $6400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(A):  The periodic inspection shall be performed by an authorized employee other than the ones(s) utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected.  On or about April 2, 2024 and thereafter, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, the employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the authorized employees to review each employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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 an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about April 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Production Area, the CIP 10 was not properly de-energized prior to removing the cap to install the elbow to complete the CIP exposing employees to caustic chemical and thermal burns.  (b)  On or about June 20, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, employees were exposed to machine hazards with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities for Table 1.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to clean the table and auger.  The screw auger was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the cleaning activity.   (c)  On or about June 20, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, employees were exposed to machine hazards with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities on the 60-inch shaker with pump used to collect the fines/cheese.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to clean around the positive pump with lobes.  The screw auger was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the cleaning activity.     (d)  On or about June 20, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, employees were exposed to machine hazards with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities on the 4-Lane Rail Cup.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to perform cleaning activities.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the cleaning activities due to a malfunction in the electrical disconnect.     As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.147(d)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1708909, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on April 18, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 5911 County Road NN, Denmark, Wisconsin.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D):  Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism when he or she begins work, and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained.  On or about June 20, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, employees were exposed to machine hazards with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities on the 60-inch shaker with pump used to collect the fines/cheese.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to clean around the positive pump with lobes.  The screw auger was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the cleaning activity.  BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1708909, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on April 18, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 5911 County Road NN, Denmark, Wisconsin.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $5000.00 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 an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about April 24, 2024, in Freedom 1 Area on Line 1, the "Roll It" mechanism, Machine Number 156, had the top blue belts rotating around a shaft which exposed employees to an unguarded nip point.    (b) On or about April 24, 2024, in Freedom 1 Area on Line 1, the "Roll It" mechanism, Machine Number 156, had the bottom blue belts rotating around a shaft which exposed employees to an unguarded nip point.    (c)  On or about May 21, 2024, in North Addition in the Batch Mixing area, air operated mixers used in kettles were not guarded at the top when employees were adding ingredients and during the mixing process exposing employees to struck by and entanglement hazards.  (d)  On or about May 21, 2024, in North Addition on Line 6D, the Dropper Conveyor had an unguarded in running nip point on the bottom side exposing employees to caught in between hazards when loading cups into the dispenser.    (e)  On or about May 21, 2024, in North Addition on Line 6C, the Dropper Conveyor had an unguarded in running nip point on the bottom side exposing employees to caught in between hazards when loading cups into the dispenser.    (f)  On or about May 21, 2024, in North Addition on Line 6A, the Cup Drop Conveyor had an unguarded nip point where the conveyor belt went around star gear on the bottom side exposing employees to caught in between hazards when loading cups into the dispenser.    (g)  On or about May 21, 2024, in North Addition on Line 6B, the Cup Drop Conveyor had an unguarded nip point where the conveyor belt went around star gear on the bottom side exposing employees to caught in between hazards when loading cups into the dispenser.    (h)  On or about June 11, 2024, in Freedom 2, the 11B Incline A-Drive Conveyor had an unguarded in running nip point where the bottom portion of the belt went around rollers exposing employees to caught in between and entanglement hazards.    (i)  On or about June 11, 2024, in Freedom 2, the 11A Incline A-Drive Conveyor had an unguarded in running nip point where the bottom portion of the belt went around rollers exposing employees to caught in between and entanglement hazards.  BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1579649, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on May 31, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at N4056 Vine Road, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2):  General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.  On or about June 11, 2024, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in Freedom 2 Area:  (a) Tables 1 and 2 had a discharge auger which led to the Cepex pump which was not secured exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (b)  Tables 3 to 6 had a discharge auger which led to the Cepex pump which was not secured exposing employees to entanglement hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii):  The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  At an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about April 24, 2024, in the Freedom 1 Area for Line 2, the Ultra Source packaging line had exposed cutting heads at the end of the conveying system with guarding which did not prevent contact from five unguarded cutter heads used to slice the length of the product packaging exposing employees to caught in between hazards.  (b)  On or about June 11, 2024, in the Freedom 2 Area, the Almac Moulder for Mixer 11 had a guard with opening large enough to access the augers below exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (c)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Vertical Form Fill Seal Packaging Machine, Model:  Elete, S/N:  SB12689, had heat bars which were unguarded from below exposing employees to caught between hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8816.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(4): Barrels, containers, and drums. Revolving drums, barrels, and containers shall be guarded by an enclosure which is interlocked with the drive mechanism, so that the barrel, drum, or container cannot revolve unless the guard enclosure is in place.   On or about April 19, 2024, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in Freedom 2 Line 11, the Almac Molder did not have a guard to protect employees in the machine area between the moulder die and plastic bar exposing employees to caught in and caught between hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7052.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4):  Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.  On or about April 23, 2024, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in the Maintenance Area, the work rest opening between the tool rest and the cut-off wheel was adjusted greater than 1/8 inch on the right side of the Wiltn 8" Bench Grinder exposing employees to caught in between and struck by hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)   On or about April 23, 2024, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in the Maintenance Area, the tongue guard opening between the tongue guard and the cut-off wheel was adjusted greater than 1/4 inch on the right and left side of the Wiltn 8" Bench Grinder exposing employees to caught in between and struck by hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7052.00 · Current $7052.00

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.  At an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom,  (a)  On or about April 24, 2024, in the Freedom 1 Area, the labeler conveyor with the Barracuda 1/2 HP motor had an unguarded rotating shaft exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (b)  On or about April 24, 2024, in Freedom 1 Area, Line 1 Labeler Conveyor had an unguarded nip point on the outfeed side of the conveyor while the plastic belt system went around the rotating shaft exposing employees to entanglement hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): 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 an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about May 7, 2024, in the Freedom 1 Area on Line 1 following the Almac Mixer, a projecting shaft with collar clamp on the outfeed conveyor used to pinch the cheese to length was not smooth or guarded by a nonrotating cap or safety sleeve exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (b)  On or about May 21, 2024, in the North Addition, the Accumulation Conveyor for Line 6B had a projecting shaft with screw sets which was not smooth or guarded by a nonrotating cap or safety sleeve exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1708909, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on April 18, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 5911 County Road NN, Denmark, Wisconsin.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(ii):  Projecting shaft ends.  Unused keyways shall be filled up or covered.  At an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about April 24, 2024, in the Freedom 1 Area on Line 1, the Transfer/Line Up Conveyor between the Weber Slicer and Roll It mechanism had an unguarded projecting shaft with keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (b)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-992 outfeed conveyor at the boxing location was an unguarded projecting shaft with keyway on the white conveyor section.  (c)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-992 where boxes are made and traveling down the grey/black conveyor to have product put in just prior to the taping machine had an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (d)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-992 at the 90-degree transfer conveyor from the outfeed conveyor of the OK Superformer had motor assembly with an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (e)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-992 at the exit conveyor to the robot side had a motor assembly with an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (f)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-1003 outfeed conveyor had an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (g)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-971 Mini Machine 4 oz outfeed conveyor had unguarded projecting shafts with an unfilled keyways on both sides of the shaft exposing employees to entanglement hazards.    (h)  On or about May 2, 2024, in the Ricotta Area, the Modern Packaging, Inc. MP-971 Mini Machine 4 oz outfeed conveyor for the Mettler Toledo metal detector had an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.   (i)  On or about May 21, 2024, in the North Addition, the outfeed Conveyor for the Box Labeler had an unguarded projecting shaft with an unfilled keyway exposing employees to entanglement hazards.

Issued

2024-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii):  Flexible cords and cables shall be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  On or about May 2, 2024, at an establishment located at N4056 Vine Road, in Freedom, Wisconsin, in the Ricotta Area, the power cord for the SoCo Systems box sealer was pulled from the motor housing employees to electrical shock hazards.