source:  OSHA website

date: April 4, 2005
 

 
OSHA Finds Safety Violations at Sorrento Lactalis Plant In Nampa, Idaho

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued repeat, serious and other-than-serious citations against cheese maker Sorrento Lactalis, Inc., for safety violations found during inspections at the company's Nampa, Idaho plant. The citations carry proposed penalties totaling $109,000.

The serious citation alleges lack of an emergency response plan, hazardous material training, a respiratory protection program, inspections of respirators and drenching or flushing facilities for the eyes. OSHA also found violations related to open-sided floors, an inadequate alarm system, portable fire extinguishers, process safety management, confined spaces, machine guarding and electrical openings.

The repeat citation noted failure to develop and implement lockout/tagout procedures for certain equipment. These procedures render machinery inoperative during maintenance and repair. Other-than-serious violations included floor openings and holes, open-sided stairs, inadequacy of fire doors and exit marking and injury and illness recordkeeping deficiencies.

Sorrento Lactalis has 15 working days following receipt of the citations to contest the violations or request a meeting with OSHA to discuss the violation notices, including methods of correction, length of abatement periods and proposed penalties.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act defines a serious violation as one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. A repeat violation is one in which the employer has been cited in the last three years for a substantially similar condition and the previous citation has become a final order.

An other-than-serious violation is defined as one where the most serious injury or illness that would likely result from a hazardous condition cannot reasonably be predicted to cause death or serious physical harm to exposed employees but does have a direct and immediate relationship to their safety and health.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.