OSHA Inspection: BERKSHIRE FOODS, INC.

Issued

2001-03-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2001-05-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employement which were free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees, in that:
On or about January 10, 2001, Berkshire Foods, Inc., had not implemented
at its plant at
4500 and 4600 S. Packers Avenue, Chicago, containing refrigeration
facilities,
the safeguards
and safety standards prescribed by the ANSI/ASHRAE Safety Code for
Mechanical
Refrigeration 15-1994. Thereby, the employees of Berkshire Foods were
exposed to releases
of ammonia that might occur as a result of, but not limited to, the
following:
1. In the engine room at 4600 S. Packers a South door communicating with
the building in
which there is an open boiler flame was not tight fitting and
self-closing. Also, piping from
the engine room was not tightly sealed to the wall through which it passes.
2. The engine rooms at 4500 and 4600 S. Packers did not have ammonia
detectors to actuate
alarms in cases of ammonia leaks.
3. Remote controls of the mechanical equipment at 4500 S. Packers engine
room were not
provided immediately outside the engine room door, nor was a control
switch provided for
the ventilation in that room.
4. Controls and piping involved with the refrigeration process were not
provided with
durable signs designating: valves or switches for controlling refrigerant
flow, the ventilation,
and the refrigeration compressors, at 4500 and 4600 S. Packers, and the
kind of refrigerant
(ammonia) contained in exposed piping outside the engine room doors.
5. Shematic drawings or panels giving directions for the operation of the
refrigeration
systems at 4500 and 4600 S. Packers at locations convenient to the
operators of the systems
were not provided.
Feasible methods of abatement for each of the above include, but are not
limited to,
adherence to the safe design , installation, and operation of ammonia
refrigeration systems as
prescribed by the ANSI/ASHRAE 15-1994 Standard (Safety Code for Mechanical
Refrigeration).
NOTE:  29 CFR 1903.19 REQUIRES THAT YOU PROVIDE CERTIFICATION AND
DOCUMENTATION OF ABATEMENT FOR THIS ITEM.