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Sanitation Worker
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about Sanitation Worker Incidents
The
job of a sanitation worker is one of the most hazardous jobs in the poultry
processing industry. Sanitation workers may work a regular production
shift, or they may be part of a special sanitation or cleaning crew.
The
focus of sanitation workers who work a regular production shift is cleaning the machinery and floors. They move product to allow cleaning and use high pressure water
hoses and squeegees to clean the floors. This type of job is frequently an entry-level position. Workers
who hold these jobs do not have the experience needed to be familiar with
the many hazards of the equipment and the environment in which they work.
They need extensive training.
The
daily sanitation or clean-up crew has the responsibility of cleaning all
product contact surfaces throughout the plant to comply with requirements
of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. If the
clean-up crew has not done a satisfactory job, the FSIS inspector will not allow the plant to
begin a production shift.
When the sanitation crew must remove guards or components to effectively clean
processing equipment, and this action (or any other action) exposes crew members
to hazardous energy, the equipment must be isolated from its energy source(s),
and the energy isolation devices must be locked out or tagged out. In some
situations, the equipment must be re-energized for a limited period of time for
testing or repositioning purposed. During the testing or positioning period, a
sequence of steps must be followed to maintain the integrity of employee
protection, and alternative protection, such as removing workers from the
machine area, must be provided to prevent employee exposure to machine hazards.
Once the testing/positioning activity is completed, the equipment again must be
de-energized and locked or tagged out and before undertaking further cleaning
activities.
Depending on the part of the
country in which the plant is located, the sanitation crew may be plant
employees or they may work for a contractor. Again, they may be entry-level
employees who need extra training to become familiar with the hazards
of their work and ways to lessen the hazards.
An
additional condition that may contribute to the hazardous nature of the
work is that the crew may receive 8 hours' pay regardless of how early
they finish the job. This gives them an incentive to work as fast as possible
and may even contribute to taking short-cuts such as not locking or
tagging out equipment.
The sanitation
worker is exposed to most of the safety and health hazards throughout the plant, including:
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Cuts, lacerations and amputations when removing blades from equipment.
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Struck by, struck against, and
caught in equipment, such as chiller paddles, or when
climbing over or under equipment.
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Slips, trips and falls, whether from ladders or
climbing on equipment, slipping on wet surfaces, or tripping
over drain covers that have been removed and not replaced. Strains, sprains, and/or
fractures may result.
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Electric shock, which is an increased risk in poultry processing plants because of the wet
environment.
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Chemical hazards, such as cleaners, that can cause skin or eye irritation or burns.
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Cuts, lacerations and amputations |
Hazardous Situation:
As workers remove blades from cutting equipment, they may
receive cuts or lacerations. Any cut not treated at once will normally
become infected as a result of working with poultry.
Possible Solutions:
- Implement equipment lockout/tagout procedures,
- Provide cut-resistant
gloves to workers who remove blades from equipment, and
- Clean and disinfect all
cuts immediately.
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Struck by, struck against and caught in |
Hazardous Situation:
Sanitation workers cleaning powered equipment can get
caught in the equipment if the motor is turned on. An example is getting
caught in the paddles of chillers. Serious injury or death can result.
Possible Solutions:
- Use the following effective protection for minor
cleaning jobs that are routine, repetitive and performed as
an essential part of the production process:
- Implement energy control (lockout/tagout) procedures, or
- Proper use of interlocked barrier guards/gates; or
- Use of properly designed control switches or buttons
that are placed in the open/off safe positions when the
devices are under the exclusive control of the employee
performing the task; and
- Train employees about the location and use of the
control circuit devices.
- Implement equipment energy control (lockout/tagout)
procedures for all other cleaning jobs.
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Falls from ladders or equipment |
Hazardous Situation:
Employees climb on ladders or equipment to adequately reach
all surfaces for cleaning. Falls can result in fractures or contusions.
Possible Solutions:
- Make sure platforms or portable ladders are the
appropriate size and height for the job and in good
condition, and
- Prohibit climbing on
equipment.
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Tripping over drain covers |
Hazardous Situation:
Employees trip over drain covers that have been removed
during cleaning. Strains, sprains, and possible fractures may result.
Possible Solution:
- Replace drain covers as
soon as the area is cleaned.
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Electric shock |
Hazardous Situation:
 Employees may experience electrical shock from water
contacting electrical connections or switch boxes or from improper
reassembly of electric connections after disassembly for cleaning.
Possible Solutions:
- Lockout and tag the electric circuit when it is possible
to do so,
- Use and maintain proper wiring and grounding,
- Keep all electrical boxes covered,
- Use equipment approved for wet locations, and
- Institute a regular
inspection program looking for worn or improperly maintained electrical
fixtures and equipment.
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Chemical
hazards
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Hazardous Situation:
Employees use chemicals, such as cleaners, that can cause
skin or eye irritation or burns.
Possible Solutions:
- Train employees on the hazards of the cleaners that they
use,
- Provide gloves, protective eyewear, and other protective
equipment to prevent skin and eye contact, and
- Evaluate new application and chemical delivery systems prior to use so
hazards and appropriate protective equipment can be identified.
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