Inspection Detail

Inspection: 315774844 - Seasonal Elegance Catering, Llc Dba Rebecca Jean

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 22, 2012, Employee #1 was working as a kitchen worker for Seasonal Elegance Catering, LLC, doing business as Rebecca Jean Catering. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 22, 2012, the employer's head chef approached Employee #1 while he was washing dishes. At the time, Employee #1 was working in the employer's commissary. It consisted of a kitchen and food preparation area located on the first floor of a building and an office on the second floor. The head chef told Employee #1 that he would be going with the catering crew to a catering event at Garfield Park in Mountain View, California. At the event, Employee #1 helped unload the van and set up tables, canopies, generators, plates, rugs and mats, and other equipment. After Employee #1 was done setting up, the owner told him to help out in the kitchen. The event started at 4:00 p.m. and ended at 7:00 p.m. At approximately 7:00 p.m., Employee #1 and the catering crew started removing canopies, folding tables, and so forth. There were only three tables left to do, when one of the event chefs asked Employee #1 to pick up the mats under the tables, which were arranged in a U-shape. Employee #1 first had to bend to roll the mat before he could pick it up. As Employee #1 stood up to get the rolled mat that was under the middle table, his left shoulder hit the table. The table held a deep fryer that was still plugged into an outlet. Hot oil from the fryer splashed on Employee #1's face, neck, and shoulder. Employee #1 immediately ran to the kitchen and splashed water on his face. The owner arrived after being alerted of the incident, and Employee #1 asked her for something to put on his face. According to Employee #1, the owner told him they did not have anything for his face. One of the chefs suggested applying mustard on the burned areas, so mustard was applied. Employee #1 stated that he continued working with the catering crew in spite of the pain. Employee #1 rode back to the commissary with one of the chefs. According to Employee #1, the owner gave him ointment to apply to the burned areas before he went home. Employee #1 reported to work the day following the accident and also the next day, when he was scheduled to clean the oven. Employee #1 said his face was sensitive to the heat coming from the oven and to the cleaner and degreaser that he used. On July 25, 2012, Employee #1 was taken to the emergency room of St. Luke's Hospital by a social worker, who assisted him in getting medical care. He had sustained first-degree burns to his face and neck. Employee #1 was given burn ointment to apply and was also given a tetanus shot. For further follow-up treatments, Employee #1 was referred to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The employer did not notify the Division of the injury. The employer did not deem Employee #1's injury serious, as they interpreted the definition of the term. The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) was notified of the incident by a social worker of Referral Consular Hospitality House at 12:30 p.m. on August 22, 2012. An investigation was initiated at approximately 11:20 a.m. on September 6, 2012, at the employer's catering commissary in San Francisco. At the time of the inspection, there was no ongoing activity in the kitchen; prepared foods had already been delivered to the client. The establishment was inspected in the company of the firm's office manager. The Division did not issue an Accident-Related citation, because the accident was not caused by a violation of Title 8, California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR). Other violations were observed, however, and the employer was cited accordingly. The Division issued three General Citations for the employer's failure to: implement and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program in that training and instruction was not provided as specified in the IIPP, violation of T8 CCR 3203(a)(7); ensure that first-aid materials were readily

Keywords: BURN, FOOD PREPARATION, HOT COOKING OIL, NECK, FACE