OSHA Inspection: NUTRITION CORP.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $14518.00

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to the toxic and fire hazards of anhydrous ammonia:  a) Maintenance Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, the employer did not develop a preventative maintenance program to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment in that procedures had not been developed or documented to maintain the Frick Lazer Weld Heat Exchanger. Failure to maintain the heat exchanger resulted in an ammonia release during normal operations exposing employees to an ammonia inhalation hazard.  Abatement Certification and Documentation Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8296.00 · Current $8296.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iii): The employer did not ensure that each employee was protected from falling into a stairway floor hole by a fixed guardrail system on all exposed sides, except at the stairway entrance. However, for any stairway used less than once per day where traffic across the stairway floor hole prevents the use of a fixed guardrail system (e.g., holes located in aisle spaces), the employer may protect employees from falling into the hole by using a hinged floor hole cover that meets the criteria in � 1910.29 and a removable guardrail system on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the stairway:  (a) Roof - On or about April 15, 2024, employees working on the roof were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately ten (10) feet because the access hatch for the roof did not have a fixed guardrail system on all exposed sides.   Abatement Certification Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $10372.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1): The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.  The top edge height may exceed 45 inches (114 cm), provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (b) of this section (see Figure D-11):  (a) Maintenance Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees accessing the maintenance storage area were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately fourteen (14) feet in that the single chain used as a guardrail system was installed at heights ranging from twenty-five and a half (25.5) inches to thirty-five (35) inches.  (b) Maintenace Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees accessing the maintenance storage area were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately fourteen (14) feet in that the guardrail system on the wooden bridge had a top rail installed at thirty-three and a half (33.5) inches high.   Certification Not Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that guardrails met the requirement that midrails that are installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking-working surface:  (a) Maintenance Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees accessing the maintenance storage area were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately fourteen (14) feet in that the single chain used as a guardrail system was installed without a midrail.  (b) Maintenace Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees accessing the maintenance storage area were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately fourteen (14) feet in that the guardrail system on the wooden bridge had a midrail installed at eleven (11) inches high on the left side and ten (10) inches on the right side both of which were less than half the height of the top rail which had been installed at thirty-three and a half (33.5) inches.  Certification Not Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6222.00 · Current $6222.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(1): Ceiling of an exit route was not at least seven feet six inches.  Any projection from the ceiling must not reach a point less than six feet eight inches from the floor:  (a) Roof - On or about April 15, 2024, employees on the roof were exposed to fire hazards because the exit route height was obstructed to a width of approximately four (4) feet high by piping in ammonia service.   Abatement Certification Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $14518.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(1): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency response plan to handle anticipated emergencies prior to commencement of emergency response operations:  (a) Maintenance Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees were exposed to fire and chemical burn hazards because they were required to respond to an ammonia leak while the employer had not developed an emergency response plan.  Abatement Certification and Documentation Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $10372.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2): A respirator was not provided by the employer to each employee when such equipment was necessary to protect the health of the employee:  (a) Maintenance Storage Area - On or about April 15, 2024, employees responding to an ammonia leak were exposed to inhalation hazards because they were not provided with respiratory protection.   Abatement Certification Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  (a) Facility Wide - On or about April 15, 2024, employees were required to work in areas containing equipment in ammonia service, such as the roof, the engine room, and the maintenance area, and the employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine employee exposure to respiratory hazards.   Abatement Certification Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $10372.00

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) Engine Room - On or about April 15, 2024, the employer did not provide a suitable eyewash for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body inside the machinery room for employees who work with ammonia (corrosive). The failure to provide functioning eyewash stations could cause chemical burns to the eyes or skin while working in an area where anhydrous ammonia could be inadvertently released.  Certification Not Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2074.00 · Current $2074.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A log of all recordable work-related injuries and illness (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent) was not completed in the detail required by the regulation:  (a) Facility Wide - On or about April 6, 2024, the employer did not describe the injury suffered by the employee in column F for each employee listed on the 300 log for 2024.  Certification Not Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1165.00 · Current $1165.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(c)(1): The employer did not develop and implement procedures in their Emergency Action Plan for reporting a fire or other emergency:  (a) Facility Wide - On or about April 15, 2024, the emergency action plan developed and implemented at the site did not contain accurate information on who to contact in the event of an ammonia release.   Abatement Certification Required.

Issued

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(c)(2): Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments, were not included in an Emergency Action Plan:  (a) Facility Wide - On or about April 15, 2024, the emergency action plan developed and implemented at the site did not contain procedures for employees to follow in the event that the wind moves a vapor cloud towards the muster point.   Abatement Certification Required.