OSHA Inspection: PREMIER GROWERS OF AMERICA

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,072 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer failed to ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids or chemical gases or vapors.  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying liquid chemicals (Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizer) to plants and trees without the use of protective eyewear; therefore exposing the employees to eye and face hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,072 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying liquid chemicals (Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizer) to plants and trees while wearing a half-face respirator, during which time the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures for respirator use that included all provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix); therefore exposing the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ii): The written program did not contain provisions for medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators:  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying liquid chemicals (Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizers) to plants and trees while wearing a half-face respirator, during which time the employees had not been medically evaluated to wear a respirator; therefore exposing the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(iii): The written program did not contain fit test procedures for tight-fitting respirators:  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying liquid chemicals (Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizer) to plants and trees while wearing a half-face respirator, during which time the employees had not been fit tested to wear the respirator; therefore, exposing the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,072 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying corrosive or caustic liquid chemicals (herbicides, fungicides and fertilizer), such as Whirlwind Mefenoxam Tribune, to plants and trees without having access to and/ or without having unimpeded access to an emergency eye wash station and/ or emergency shower facility.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,072 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 October 07, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were operating a potting soil machine, wherein the employees where hand-filling/ using a shovel to load potting soil into the hopper, during which time the machine's hopper, which contained rotating chains and sprockets did not have a grate/ guard atop the hopper; therefore exposing the employees to an amputation hazard.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,072 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying corrosive or caustic liquid chemicals such as Whirlwind Mefenoxam Tribune, and were applying Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizer, to plants and trees, during which time the employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program; therefore exposing the employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying corrosive or caustic liquid chemicals such as Whirlwind Mefenoxam Tribune, and were applying Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilize, during which time the employees had not been trained on the heath/ physical hazards and/ or the Personal protective equipment/ PPE associated with/ required for any of the (33) thirty three chemicals in use; therefore exposing the employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Nov 16, 2022

Abate by

Dec 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(b)(4)(ii):  The employer failed to ensure that the safety data sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s):  a. On or about August 05, 2022, at the facility in Alturas Florida, employees were using/ applying corrosive or caustic liquid chemicals such as Whirlwind Mefenoxam Tribune, and were applying Postiva and Lucid insecticides, and Peters liquid fertilizer, to plants and trees, without having access to the SDS(s)/ MSDS(s); therefore exposing the employees to chemical hazards.