OSHA Inspection: ALPHA BAKING COMPANY INC.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $91025.00 · Current $54000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A):  Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation.   a.  On or about August 9, 2024, located at Line 11 Lidder conveyor, an employee performed lockout/tagout covered tasks of unjamming and making adjustments to equipment without being trained to the authorized level. Deficiencies in their training included but not limited to, what tasks required them to perform lockout/tagout, how to properly isolate energy sources and where the energy isolating device was located for the Lidder. These deficiencies in their training exposed employees to the hazards associated with being caught-in rotating parts and ingoing nip points.  b.  On or about August 15, 2024, located at Line 11 Lidder conveyor, employees performed lockout/tagout covered tasks of unjamming and making adjustments to equipment without being trained to the authorized level. Deficiencies in their training included but not limited to, what tasks required them to perform lockout/tagout, how to properly isolate energy sources and where the energy isolating device was located for the Lidder. These deficiencies in their training exposed employees to the hazards associated with being caught-in rotating parts and ingoing nip points.  Alpha Baking Co., Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of an equivalent Occupational Safety and Health Standard, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1453446, citation number 1, item number 1a, and was affirmed as final order on August 14, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 4545 West Lyndale Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $91025.00 · Current $55000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) was not done in sequence to achieve energy control by performing the following steps as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a.  On or about August 9, 2024, located at Line 11 Lidder conveyor, an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts and in-going nip points while removing jams on the Lidder.  The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the unjamming [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.   b.  On or about August 15, 2024, located at Line 11 Lidder conveyor, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts and in-going nip points while removing jams on the Lidder. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the unjamming [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.   Alpha Baking Co., Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of an equivalent Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1567823, citation number 1, item number 4, and was affirmed as a final order on May 9, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 4300 Cty Rd CR, Manitowoc, WI 54220.  Alpha Baking Co., Inc. was previously citated for a Serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1453446, citation number 1, item number 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on August 14, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 4545 West Lyndale Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $91025.00 · Current $55000.00 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 August 15, 2024, located at Lidder 11 conveyor, employees were not protected from the rotating rollers of Line 11 Lidder conveyor, thereby exposing the employees to caught-in hazards.   b.   On or about August 15, 2024, located at Lidder 11 conveyor, employees were not protected from a rotating shaft off each side of the conveyor's end roller where the bread pans exit the Lidder, thereby exposing employees to caught-in hazards.  Alpha Baking Company was previously cited for a Serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1648132, citation number 1, item number 1a, and was affirmed as final order on September 5, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 4550 W. Palmer Street, Chicago, IL 60644.  Alpha Baking Company was previously cited for a Serious violation of an equivalent Occupational Safety and Health standard, 29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1648132, citation number 1, item number 1b, and was affirmed as final order on September 5, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 4550 W. Palmer Street, Chicago, IL 60644.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i):  All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting.  a.  On or about August 15, 2024, located at the Line 11 Lidder conveyor, employees reached into the Lidder in order to advance and make adjustments to bread pans while there was a rotating shaft that was approximately 5 feet, 3 inches above the floor that was not completely enclosed or otherwise guarded, thereby exposing the employees to caught-in hazards.  Alpha Baking Company, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard, 29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1648132, citation number 1, item number 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on September 5, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 4550 W. Palmer Street, Chicago, IL 60644.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(i)(2):  Revolving surfaces of shaft coupling(s) were not covered by a safety sleeve.  a.  On or about August 15, 2024, at the Line 11 Lidder, employer did not ensure machine guarding was installed on Line 11 Lidder to prevent employees from contacting the rotating coupler during normal production.  Employees were thereby exposed to machine hazards associated with an unguarded rotating shaft coupler.  Alpha Baking Company, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of an equivalent Occupational Safety and Health Standard, 29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1648132, citation number 1, item number 1b, and was affirmed as final order on September 5, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 4550 W. Palmer Street, Chicago, IL 60644.

Issued

2025-02-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-02-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.263(c)(3):  Sprocket(s) and V-belt drive(s) of bakery machinery located within reach from platform(s) or passageway(s) or located within 8 feet 6 inches from the floor were not completely enclosed.  a.  On or about August 15, 2024, located at the Line 11 Lidder conveyor, employees reached into the Lidder in order to advance and make adjustments to bread pans while there were sprockets that were approximately four feet above the floor that were not completely enclosed, thereby exposing the employees to caught-in hazards where the chains meet the sprockets.  Alpha Baking Co., Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard, 29 CFR 1910.263(c)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1567823, citation number 1, item number 7, and was affirmed as a final order on May 9, 2022, with respect to workplace located at 4300 Cty Rd CR Manitowoc, WI 54220.