OSHA Inspection: ALEXANDRA FOODS, LLC

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,276 · Current $4,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(d)(1): Employee(s) were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:  (a) On or about November 15, 2024, employees within the facility were not able to open an exit route door from the Shipping/Receiving area through double doors on the Northwest corner of the building without special knowledge. There was a set of slide bolt latches on the door, one mounted at the top of the door, and one mounted on the right door.   (b) On or about November 15, 2024, employees within the facility were not able to open an exit route door from the Kitchen areas at the Southwest corner of the facility to the public sidewalk without keys. The door was unlocked; however, a locked external wooden gate was located only 10 feet from the building.  (c) On or about November 15, 2024, employees within the facility were not able to open an exit route door from the Main Pierogi Process Room to the public sidewalk. It was maintained in a locked condition, and the keys were kept in the managers' office.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(g)(2): Exit access(es) were not at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points.  (a) On or about December 3, 2024, the employer did not ensure that emergency egress routes were kept with at least 28-inches wide at all times within the Dry Goods areas of the facility. The egress route was measured as 17 inches wide.   (b) On or about December 3, 2024, the employer did not ensure that emergency egress routes were kept with at least 28-inches wide at all times within the Shipping and Receiving areas of the facility. The egress route was measured as 19 inches wide.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Abate by

May 5, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,931 · Current $4,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, and or other potential hazards:  (a) On or about November 15, 2024, the employer did not ensure that each employee participating in the cleaning operations of the production line in the facility wore appropriate eye protection. Employees were exposed to a caustic cleaning solution composed of detergents, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and sodium hydroxide.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Abate by

May 12, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $6,500 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) On or about November 15, 2024, employees filling and repositioning dough in the dough hopper of Uszka making machines in the facility were exposed to amputation hazards created by the twin screw portioning stage of the machine at the bottom of the dough hopper.  (b) On or about November 15, 2024, employees pushing down the filling hopper of the Uszka making machines in the facility were exposed to crushed-by and entanglement hazards created by the rotating paddles which would scrape down the sides of the filling hopper.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,620 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:   (a) On or about December 3, 2024, the employer did not ensure that compressed air used for cleaning within the kitchen where the meat grinder is located was not reduced to less than 30 psi.   (b) On or about November 27, 2024, the employer did not ensure that compressed air used for cleaning within the vegetable production kitchen was not reduced to less than 30 psi.   No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $1,109 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):  The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  (a) On or about November 15, 2024, the employer did not maintain in the workplace an up-to-date copy of the Safety Data Sheet for Zep Provisions Pot & Pan Plus. Employees were exposed to contact with chemical hazards during use of the detergent during the cleaning and sanitizing of the facility.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 9, 2025

Abate by

May 5, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $1,109

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) On or about November 15, 2024, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area that were used for cleaning and sanitizing the Main Pierogi Production Room. Employees were exposed to chemical hazards including contact with chemicals such as a mixture of detergents, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and sodium hydroxide.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.