OSHA has cited dairy food company with 10 serious, two repeat and two other-than-serious violations. OSHA began an inspection in November 2012 under its Site Specific Targeting Program that directs enforcement resources to high-hazard workplaces, where high injury and illness rates occur, and the National Emphasis Program on facilities, covered under the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals. The serious violations of the process safety management standard include:
- a lack of accurate process information;
- lack of documentation demonstrating that process equipment complies with recognized and accepted engineering practices;
- inadequate process hazard analysis revalidation;
- lack of adequate procedures for managing changes in process equipment; and
- deficiencies in mechanical integrity of equipment,
which could lead to the release of ammonia.
Other serious violations include:
- fall hazards from elevated work areas,
- unguarded machinery and
- failing to provide properly designed electrical equipment for wet locations.
The two repeat violations were cited for:
- failing to establish written procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of the process equipment and
- exposing workers to live electrical parts.
A repeat citation is issued when an employer has been previously cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, or rule at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited at this same work site in 2009.
The other-than-serious violations include:
- an ineffective evaluation for contractors working on chemical processes and
- for storing materials in front of electrical equipment
CLICK HERE for the OSHA news release.