OSHA meets with representatives of poultry industry

Eleven Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials and 45 safety and health representatives of the poultry industry met on Dec. 3 to discuss OSHA’s Region 4 and 6 Emphasis Program focused on the poultry industry.
“The meeting provided a rare opportunity for the poultry industry and regional leadership from OSHA to discuss the upcoming emphasis program on poultry processing,” said Paul Pressley, USPOULTRY Executive VP - Industry Programs. “OSHA took the opportunity to discuss some of the trends they see during their inspection process, and the poultry industry was able to share many of the advancements that have been made in workplace safety throughout the industry, leading to the significant reduction in workplace injuries.”
A video message from OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor, Dr. David Michaels, was shared and his remarks can be downloaded here.
OSHA Regional Administrator - Region 4, Kurt Petermeyer along with Region 4 and 6 Assistant Administrators, Billie Kizer, Jeffery Lewis and Josh Flesher, presented a summary of the Regional Emphasis Program, discussing the elements of the program, the process of scheduling and inspection procedures. OSHA Occupational Physician, Dr. Kathleen Fagan, spoke on medical management of musculoskeletal disorders and biological hazard such as campylobacteriosis and histoplasmosis.
While acknowledging that the industry continues to seek new ways to improve workplace safety, Pressley led a discussion of the many advancements in worker safety and health which have resulted in a significant reduction in workplace injuries and illnesses in poultry processing facilities. As evidence of this improvement, twenty years ago the industry’s OSHA recordable injury and illness rate was almost double the rate for the entire manufacturing sector and now it is essentially the same as all manufacturing.
Dr. Doug Britton spoke briefly on the work conducted by the Georgia Tech Research Institute Agriculture Technology Research Program for which he is manager. The program has had great success developing technologies to measure and monitor physical stresses for improved ergonomics as well as developing equipment to replace many manual tasks in poultry plants. Dr. Britton described the next generation of automated de-boning, referenced as intelligent cutting. Cameras and computers will model each carcass and control the automated cutting to maximize quality and yield.
There was extensive discussion and successful dialogue between the OSHA officials and the industry. If you have any questions, please contact Pressley.

OSHA cites Case Farms for alleged ammonia hazards

Federal inspections of Case Farms’ processing facilities in Ohio have resulted in an additional $462,000 in penalties for alleged deficiencies in ammonia refrigeration systems at two of the company’s poultry processing facilities in Ohio. With the latest citation, Case Farms has been issued more than $1.87 million in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2015 for allegedly exposing workers to multiple safety and health violations.
OSHA cited the company for 11 repeated, four serious and two other-than-serious violations on December 1 at Case Farms’ plant in Winesburg, Ohio. Proposed penalties total $308,000. The company’s facility in Canton, Ohio, faces an additional $154,000 in penalties after OSHA cited it for five repeated and three serious violations on December 1.
According to a press release from OSHA, Case Farms has more than 10,000 pounds of ammonia in its refrigeration systems at each plant. Exposure to ammonia can cause serious respiratory illness, and the accidental release of ammonia from pressurized pipes and vessels may have catastrophic consequences.
OSHA also asserts that the company failed to do the following:

• Perform annual bloodborne pathogen refresher training.
• Provide hepatitis B vaccine for workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
• Store gas cylinders properly.

Prior to issuing these citations, OSHA in August placed Case Farms in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program after it assessed $861,500 in penalties following inspections at the company’s Winesburg facility.
OSHA cited Case Farms in September 2015 for exposing workers to amputation, fall, electrical and other serious hazards after two workers suffered amputations while they cleaned machines at the Canton facility. The agency proposed penalties of $424,600 as a result of those inspections.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Case Farms has contested all previous citations.

OSHA fines Pilgrim’s, says injuries were preventable

Pilgrim’s has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), alleging that three employees were injured in accidents that the agency said were preventable at its facilities in Moorefield, West Virginia.
OSHA investigators went to two Pilgrim’s facilities in Moorefield during inspections conducted in April, May and June, and claim that preventable safety violations caused the injuries – including one case where a worker had three fingers amputated. Following those visits, OSHA cited Pilgrim’s for one repeat and three serious violations. The proposed fines total $46,825.
According to OSHA, on April 28, 2015, an employee contacted an unguarded machine shaft while operating a conveyer system. Pulled around the shaft, the worker suffered a fractured arm. Two weeks later, on May 12, an employee fell on a concrete floor while refilling a machine with an inadequate step for employee access. A third worker had three fingers amputated when they caught in a blender while removing poultry from the machine on June 15.
Pilgrim’s, the second largest broiler company in the United States, has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA alleges Allen Harim avoiding reporting injuries

Allen Harim Foods is being accused by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of using a first aid station at its poultry processing plant in Harbeson, Delaware, as a means to avoid reporting workplace injuries.
According to OSHA, Allen Harim is sending hurt workers to a first aid station that is staffed by three emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are not licensed in Delaware. Also, OSHA alleged those EMTs are supervised by an administrator with no medical training, and a Millsboro-based physician signs off on Allen Harim’s medical directive, but is not obligated to review its medical logs, according to a Delaware Online report.
The allegations were pointed out in the form of a hazard alert letter from OSHA to Allen Harim, but no citations have been issued.
In a statement, Allen Harim said the company is committed to providing a safe and healthful workplace for its employees, but had no further comments concerning the allegations in the hazard alert letters.
These latest allegations from OSHA follow a citation for allegedly exposing workers to musculoskeletal hazards, failure to designate emergency exits and not providing sufficient training related to machinery at its poultry plant in Harbeson, Delaware. The company has stated that those allegations are unwarranted and is contesting the citation and the potential $38,000 fine connected with the citation.

Allen Harim cited by OSHA for alleged workplace hazards

An Allen Harim Foods poultry plant in Harbeson, Delaware, is being cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exposing employees on the deboning line to musculoskeletal disorder hazards. The agency determined that workers performed prolonged, repetitive and forceful tasks without controls in place to prevent injuries.
"Musculoskeletal injuries caused by these hazards in poultry plants are too common," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "These types of injuries can be prevented by implementing appropriate engineering and administrative controls in the workplace, and when they occur, they must be treated early with appropriate medical care to prevent the illness from progressing."
In addition to the citation for the company's failure to address the musculoskeletal disorder hazards, OSHA issued citations for failing to designate emergency exits properly and to ensure employees received training related to machinery that could unexpectedly start up during service and maintenance. OSHA cited Allen Harim for a total of nine violations. Proposed penalties total $38,000.
"The combination of musculoskeletal disorder hazards, lack of proper medical treatment for musculoskeletal disorders and underreporting of injuries at this plant must be addressed by the company," said Erin Patterson, director of OSHA's Wilmington office. "Workers should not have to work in pain, especially when these injuries are preventable."
Allen Harim has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings.

OSHA cites Case Farms for alleged safety violations

Case Farms has been fined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exposing workers to dangerous machinery hazards at its Winesburg, Ohio, poultry processing facility.
The alleged violations took place less than two years after agreeing to address safety violations in a settlement agreement with OSHA. The agency says the company has recently exposed workers to the same hazards at the facility.
OSHA found one willful, four repeated, one serious and one other-than-serious violation at the facility during two follow-up inspections, which cited the company for 23 safety violations in 2011. OSHA initiated the follow-up inspections to verify that previously cited hazards had been corrected at the facility. The chicken producing and processing company faces proposed penalties of $126,500.
"Case Farms Processing continues to demonstrate that the safety and health of its workers is not a corporate priority," said Deborah Zubaty, area director of OSHA's Columbus office. "This inspection demonstrates that the company has failed to meet the goals outlined in the 2013 agreement. This is a disheartening setback for worker safety at this company."
OSHA's inspection found that machinery lacked proper safety mechanisms and workers faced amputation hazards while operating saws and grinders. Additionally, sanitation workers were not included in company audits concerning machines starting up during service and maintenance. The company, according to OSHA, also failed to maintain an accurate log of worker injuries and illnesses.
The company has 15 business days after being notified about its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Case Farms, however, has been honored in recent months for its worker safety record at other facilities. In 2014 Case Farms earned the Award of Honor for worker safety and health performance from the Poultry Industry Safety, and Health Council. This award distinguishes companies who demonstrate a strong commitment to implementing innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. The award was presented to the Goldsboro , North Carolina, processing plant and hatchery during the 2014 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry.
In addition, Case Farms’ Winesburg, Ohio feed mill was presented the Award of Merit.

OSHA cites Pilgrim’s for four violations in August electrocution

The Occupational Safety &  Health Administration (OSHA) fined Pilgrim’s $59,500, citing three serious violations and one repeat violation in connection to the electrocution of a worker at a poultry processing plant in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Bobby Joe Beall, 50, died the morning of August 4 after being exposed to an electric shock while working on machinery at the Nacogdoches poultry plant.
According to KLTV, OSHA cited Pilgrim’s, alleging it was in violation of the following rules:


• The circuits and equipment to be worked on shall be disconnected from all electric energy sources. Control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches, and interlocks, may not be used as the sole means for deenergizing circuits or equipment. Interlocks for electric equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures.
• A lock and a tag shall be placed on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed... The lock shall be attached so as to prevent persons from operating the disconnecting means unless they resort to undue force or the use of tools."
• A qualified person shall use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are deenergized. The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists as a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage backfeed even though specific parts of the circuit have been deenergized and presumed to be safe. If the circuit to be tested is over 600 volts, nominal, the test equipment shall be checked for proper operation immediately after this test.
• Each disconnecting means ... for motors and appliances shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident.
Pilgrim’s is contesting the violations, according to OSHA.

Poultry groups: OSHA attacks on safety record perplexing

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and National Chicken Council (NCC) take exception to the recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation against Wayne Farms for alleged safety violations at its Jack, Alabama, plant involving musculoskeletal disorders and other workplace hazards.
The organizations issued a joint statement concerning OSHA’s investigation into Wayne Farms, which was rooted in a complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an activist group with a long history of animosity toward the poultry industry.
The statement reads:
“OSHA’s accusations of wrongdoing lack evidence and are simply unfounded. OSHA incorrectly portrays an undeserved negative image of the entire poultry industry despite its outstanding record of improvement in employee health and safety, particularly over the past three decades.
“The poultry industry finds it ironic that OSHA, in effect, is attacking the very same safety guidelines that it developed in cooperation with the poultry industry many years ago. In fact, this past summer OSHA and USDA issued a joint communication supporting ‘effective efforts by the poultry industry to protect the safety and health of employees.’
“The poultry industry’s record of outstanding advancements in reducing ergonomic risks is based on fact. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that poultry processing plants have reduced the rate of workplace illness, including musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, by 62 percent in the past decade. BLS data further indicate that ‘Total Recordable Injury and Illness’ in poultry plants has dropped from 22.7 percent of employees in 1994, down to just 4.5 percent in 2013!
“In its recent citation, OSHA references an ambiguous section of federal law enacted in 1970. Commonly known as the General Duty Clause, it states that employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace. The poultry industry believes that imposing the General Duty Clause should require more than simple observation of job tasks. There should also be specific evidence of hazards that are not being addressed, evidence that is lacking in OSHA’s citation against Wayne Farms.
“After reviewing five years of injury and illness records in this case, OSHA identified only a handful of recordkeeping incidents, most of which involved the employer’s provision of exercise-strengthening programs for employees experiencing minor discomfort. Because the employer did not record these proactive measures to head off potential injury, OSHA misconstrued this as proof of underreporting. Historically, as OSHA is aware, these proactive measures have not been recorded as injuries. The poultry industry believes that it properly addresses OSHA’s recordkeeping standard and that OSHA has inexplicably changed its interpretation of the rules by deciding to now classify proactive job conditioning and minor soreness as a recordable injury or illness.
“The poultry industry relies on its workforce of dedicated employees to provide a wholesome and affordable food source for the nation and the rest of the world. This reliance has prompted the industry to heavily invest in processes and procedures to further reduce workplace hazards and ergonomic risks. While the poultry industry respects the government’s oversight role in the joint effort to protect employees, the industry’s workplace advancements and future success are in danger of being hampered by unclear rules and arbitrary actions like those demonstrated by OSHA.”

Alleged abuse at Wayne Farms plant center of complaint to OSHA

A federal complaint has been filed against Wayne Farms, which has been accused of subjecting workers at its poultry processing plant in Enterprise, Ala., to dangerous and abusive conditions. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a complaint against Wayne Farms with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) on behalf of nine people who are either current or former Wayne Farms workers.
Alan Sterling, director of marketing for Wayne Farms, told al.com the company is still in the process of reviewing the SPLC filing against Wayne Farms and has yet to determine whether it has any merit. “Wayne Farms takes any situation or allegations regarding our employees, our customers and our communities where we work very seriously,” Sterling said. “It would be premature and inappropriate for us to comment on a matter that is still in the earliest stages of review and may or may not culminate into a formal investigation.”
SPLC alleges one plant worker, Beatriz Navedo, had suffered a heart attack on the job, but the nurse at the plant only gave Navedo aspirin and did not call the hospital. When Navedo’s daughter, who also works at the plant, left her shift early to take her mother to the hospital, both were punished, according to SPLC. Wayne Farms also requires its workers to pay the company for some of their protective equipment and denies them reasonable access to the restroom, alleges SPLC.

OSHA announces proposed new rule for tracking workplace injuries, illnesses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The announcement follows the Bureau of Labor Statistics' release of its annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report, which estimates that three million workers were injured on the job in 2012.
"Three million injuries are 3 million too many," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "With the changes being proposed in this rule, employers, employees, the government and researchers will have better access to data that will encourage earlier abatement of hazards and result in improved programs to reduce workplace hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The proposal does not add any new requirement to keep records; it only modifies an employer's obligation to transmit these records to OSHA."
The public will have 90 days, through February 6, 2014, to submit written comments on the proposed rule. On January 9, 2014, OSHA will hold a public meeting on the proposed rule in Washington, D.C.
The proposed rule was developed following a series of stakeholder meetings in 2010 to help OSHA gather information about electronic submission of establishment-specific injury and illness data. OSHA is proposing to amend its current recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information employers are already required to keep under existing standards, Part 1904. The first proposed new requirement is for establishments with more than 250 employees (and who are already required to keep records) to electronically submit the records on a quarterly basis to OSHA.
OSHA is also proposing that establishments with 20 or more employees, in certain industries with high injury and illness rates, be required to submit electronically only their summary of work-related injuries and illnesses to OSHA once a year. Currently, many such firms report this information to OSHA under OSHA's Data Initiative. 

OSHA leader praises poultry industry for commitment to safety

Dr. David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary of labor, spoke recently to poultry industry members about workplace safety matters.

Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), lauded the poultry industry on the advancements made in workplace safety during his opening remarks at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry on August 19. However, he challenged the industry to continue to find better solutions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and workplace exposure to chemicals.
"Your participation today in a longstanding, industry specific conference shows your commitment to workplace safety," said Michaels, who also cited incidence rates for workplace illnesses such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome in the poultry industry as higher than industry averages. While recognizing the progress that has been made, Michaels reminded attendees there is still much to do to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
The 2013 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry was a three-day event designed specifically for poultry facility and corporate safety personnel. Over 100 safety professionals attended the Conference, which was sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the Agriculture Technology Research Program at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Poultry Federation, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. This year's conference was held August 19- 21, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.
In addition to hearing from Michaels, attendees learned more about Continuous Improvement Processes, received an overview and discussed safety implications of the proposed Modernization of Poultry Inspection Act, and discussed the financial impact of illegal drug use in the workplace. A session of sharing best practices and a series of informal roundtables covering many current safety and health issues continued to be popular and beneficial for attendees. 

Pilgrim’s cited with eight safety violations

Pilgrim's has been cited with eight safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The citations follow the death of a worker who became caught in an unguarded hopper while attempting to remove a piece of cardboard at the company's poultry processing facility in Canton, Ga.OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office initiated its inspection in October 2012 in response to the fatality.
Two repeat safety violations have been cited for failing to include the process needed for the removal of locks and start-up following lockout/tagout. Additionally, the electrical cords did not have an effective strain relief device, according to OSHA. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited following a 2011 inspection.
Four serious safety violations involve the employer failing to conduct annual periodic inspections of the energy control procedures since 2005 and not providing effective machine and equipment guarding, so that workers cannot enter areas of operation and be exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.
Two other-than-serious violations involve failing to consider safety and health standards for the refrigeration process and not including safety systems and their functions in the refrigeration operating procedures. An other-than-serious violation is defined as one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
The citations for the repeat and serious violations carry $58,755 in proposed penalties. No monetary penalties have been assessed for the other-than-serious violations.
The company, which has not commented on the citations, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Atlanta-East area director or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA cites US poultry processor for safety violations

U.S. poultry processor KD Acquisition I LLC, doing business as Coleman Natural Foods, has been cited with eight safety violations and proposed penalties totaling $142,150 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for reported safety hazards after OSHA received a complaint in July 2011.
OSHA has cited the company for three repeat violations with penalties of $121,000 for failing to install machine guards on equipment where employees could come into contact with moving parts, tightly seal electrical enclosures to prevent severe corrosion and provide adequate strain relief on electrical components. Similar violations were cited in 2006 and 2007. KD Acquisition also has been cited for four serious safety violations with penalties of $21,150 for failing to provide an ammonia detector that would warn of gas dispersal into the air, provide training to workers acting in the capacity of hazardous materials technicians when accessing equipment during emergency releases of ammonia, repair or contain hydraulic fluid leaks that created slippery floor surfaces and provide machine guards when operating the shaft ends of the conveyor systems. KD Acquisition has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Joint Poultry Industry responds to OSHA over noise

The Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Committee, which is composed of representatives of the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, has submitted a response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The issue relates to an official re-interpretation on requiring engineering solutions to noise in plants and the workplace.
The submission dated Feb. 22, 2011, claims that the proposal “marks a substantial departure from long standing OSHA enforcement positions, and imposes substantial additional costs on employers without producing a commensurate benefit to employees, and will have a disparate impact on employers based solely on their economic health, not the hazards to which their workers are exposed.”
The full text of the response can be accessed on the USPOULTRY website under position papers.

Butterball facility goes 5 million hours without lost-time injury

A Butterball LLC facility in Huntsville, Ark. has gone 5 million worker hours without a lost-time injury.
These hours represent three years of successful safety performance. "Reaching this milestone demonstrates Butterball's commitment to eliminating unsafe conditions and worker injuries throughout the company," said Brian Rodgers, corporate director of safety and risk management. The Huntsville facility has been recognized in the past for its safety program. OSHA named it a VPP "Star Amongst Stars" facility, certifying that the facility maintains an incident rate of 50% or better than the industry average. Huntsville has also received the Award of Honor from the American Meat Institute and the Award of Distinction from the National Joint Poultry Safety and Health Council.

GEAPS announces 2011 bin sweep technical conference

The Grain Elevator & Processing Society’s annual technical conference and Exchange exhibition is set to take place Feb. 27-March 1, 2011 in Portland, Ore.
The workshop, “Bin Sweeps and Bin Entry: Tackling an Industry Challenge,” will address important issues relating to Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “zero-bin-entry” grain elevator regulations while unguarded bin sweep equipment is running. It will also include an overview of regulatory issues, a segment on the insurance industry’s perspective and a discussion about compliance of grain companies. Bin sweep manufacturers will be given five to seven minutes to discuss how their equipment helps meet zero-entry challenges.
The deadline for bin sweep manufacturers to apply is Dec.1, and a limited number of vendors who best address how their equipment helps meet the requirements will be chosen to participate. More information and an application is available by contacting Chuck House by e-mail at chuckh@geaps.com or by phone at +1.952.928.4640.

Ammonia leak at Alabama chicken plant sends 130 people to ER

Between 200 and 300 gallons of ammonia were released when a tank leaked at an Alabama chicken refrigeration plant.
At least 130 people had ammonia poisoning symptoms severe enough to be sent to the emergency room as a result of the leak; others affected were provided with first aid at a nearby gas station. Millard Refrigerated Services, the site of the leak, handles up to 2.5 million pounds of chicken each day. Officials do not yet know the cause of the leak, but said the company will likely face fines from both OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Allen fined $1million for safety violations

The Baltimore Sun reported Allen Family Foods Inc. has been fined $1 million for 51 safety violations found in an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health unit of the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in Maryland.
The state inspection followed an incident at the poultry company’s Hurlock, Md., facility last December in which an employee was seriously hurt.

Grain, feed groups recommend OSHA retain grain-handling safety rules

The National Grain and Feed Association has urged the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to retain its existing grain-handling facility standard, and to exempt grain elevators, feed mills and grain processing plants already covered by those regulations from its planned development of a comprehensive combustible dust standard.
The association's statement, developed in collaboration with the American Feed Industry Association and Pet Food Institute, was submitted in response to OSHA's October 21, 2009, advance notice of proposed rulemaking, in which the agency signaled its intent to develop a broad, comprehensive combustible dust standard that would apply across different industry sectors.
The National Grain and Feed Association noted that OSHA's own regulatory review in 2003 determined that the grain-handling standard should continue without change. Fire and explosion incidents in grain-handling facilities have declined by 65%, as measured in five-year increments since 1976, according to the association. Meanwhile, the reduction in the number of injuries and fatalities has declined 86% and 94%, respectively. This improved safety record occurred even as the volume of grain being handled by U.S. facilities increased by nearly 60% over the same time span, the statement said.
The association attributed the progress to a combination of governmental safety rules and an extensive $3.5 million industry research program that discovered the causes of and developed new techniques for controlling fire and explosion risks, coupled with ongoing education and training efforts.
The statement to OSHA opposed modeling a combustible dust standard after voluntary standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association, which do not evaluate practical implementation or cost impacts, and do not permit broad public participation in their development, according to the feed group. The statement said that the National Fire Protection Association’s potential recommendation of a 1/32-inch or less action level for combustible dusts, compared with the 1/8-inch standard now applicable to grain dust in priority housekeeping areas around bucket elevators, would increase compliance costs by several fold without materially contributing to improved safety.

Feed Mill Management Seminar to take place in March

The 2010 Feed Mill Management Seminar, sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s Poultry and Egg Institute, will take place March 10–11, 2010, at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
The seminar will examine best practices, changes in OSHA regulations, the latest technology in conditioning and pelleting, new truck anti-roll over devices, boiler management and other feed manufacturing topics.