Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307100172 - Tyson Foods, Inc., Dba River Valley Animal Foods

Inspection Information - Office: Little Rock Area Office

Inspection Nr: 307100172

Report ID: 0627100

Date Opened: 10/10/2003

Site Address:
Tyson Foods, Inc., Dba River Valley Animal Foods
7500 Tyson Road
Texarkana, AR 71854

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2077

NAICS: 311613/Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: Y

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 04/09/2004

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/05/2010

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	100262476

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	16	9		2		27
Current Violations	10	2		4		16
Initial Penalty	$140,000	$560,000	$0	$2,000	$0	$702,000
Current Penalty	$70,000	$120,000	$0	$5,000	$0	$195,000
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100120 Q01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
2.	01002	Serious	19100120 Q03 IV	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
3.	01003	Serious	19100120 Q03 V	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
4.	01004	Serious	19100120 Q03 IX	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
5.	01005	Serious	19100120 Q06	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
6.	01006A	Serious	19100132 D01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
7.	01006B	Serious	19100132 D02	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
8.	01007	Serious	19100134 D01 III	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
9.	01008	Serious	19100134 E06 I	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
10.	01009	Serious	19100134 F01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
11.	01010	Serious	19100134 G01 IA	04/09/2004	04/21/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
12.	01011	Serious	19100134 H02 IIA	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
13.	01012	Serious	19100151 B	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
14.	01013A	Serious	19100120 Q01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
15.	01013B	Serious	19100120 Q03 IV	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$0	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
16.	01013C	Serious	19100120 Q03 V	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$0	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
17.	01013D	Serious	19100120 Q03 IX	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$0	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
18.	01013E	Serious	19100120 Q06	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
19.	01014	Other	19100132 D02	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$2,000	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
20.	01015	Other	19100134 E06 I	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$2,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
21.	01016A	Serious	19100134 F01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
22.	01016B	Serious	19100134 G01 IA	04/09/2004	04/21/2004	$0	$7,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
23.	02001A	Willful	19101000 B02	04/09/2004	04/21/2004	$70,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
24.	02001B	Willful	19101000 E	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
25.	02001C	Willful	19100134 A02	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
26.	02002A	Serious	19101200 E01	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$7,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
27.	02002B	Serious	19101200 E04	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
28.	02003A	Serious	19101200 F05 I	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
29.	02003B	Serious	19101200 F05 II	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
30.	02004A	Willful	19101200 H03I	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$70,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
31.	02004B	Willful	19101200 H03 II	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
32.	02005	Willful	19101200 H03 III	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$70,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
33.	02006	Serious	19101000 B02	04/09/2004	04/21/2004	$7,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
34.	02007	Willful	19101000 E	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$50,000	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
35.	02008	Serious	19100134 A02	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$7,000	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
36.	02009A	Willful	19101200 H03I	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$70,000	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
37.	02009B	Willful	19101200 H03 II	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$0	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
38.	02009C	Willful	19101200 H03 III	04/09/2004	04/28/2004	$0	$70,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
39.	03001	Other	19040029 B01	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$500	$1,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement
40.	03002	Other	19040029 B02	04/09/2004	04/16/2004	$500	$1,000	$0	04/30/2004	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 200262178

Event: 10/10/2003

One employee killed and other iinjured by hydrogen sulfide

On October 10, 2003, Employee #1 climbed up to a platform approximately 6 ft above the floor to re-tighten the gasket packing on the hydrolyzer machine. The hydrolyzer cooks down poultry feathers to produce a protein ingredient for animal food at this rendering plant. The process of decomposing feathers was known by the plant to create hydrogen sulfide gas inside and around this hydrolyzer. The employee was attempting to tighten the packing while the hydrolyzer continued to run and spray out steam and product at the feed end of the machine around the center shaft. Employee #2, a supervisor, was watching from the floor level below when Employee #1 stood up and leaned against a guardrail. Employee #2 noticed that Employee #1 was bleeding from his nose. Employee #1 then collapsed to the catwalk platform. Employee #2 called for help and climbed up on the platform to assist Employee #1, while other coworkers responded. Employee #2 collapsed after Employee #1 was removed from the catwalk platform. Both employees were removed from the area and Employee #1 was given CPR until paramedics arrived. The two paramedics continued to treat Employee #1, but never revived him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The two paramedics, Employee #3, and #4 also were overcome by hydrogen sulfide, noting a rotten egg smell while treating Employee #1 in the back of their ambulance. Two more ambulances were dispatched, one treating and transporting Employee #2, and one assisting and transporting the two paramedics.. Employee #2 and the two paramedics were admitted to the hospital for exposure to hydrogen sulfide.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, MAINTENANCE, FOOD PREPARATION, HEALTH CARE WORKER, PPE, HYDROGEN SULFIDE, TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, NOSE, AIR CONTAMINATION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	307100172	Fatality	Other	Machinery maintenance occupations
2	307100172	Hospitalized injury	Other	Machinery maintenance occupations
3	307100172	Hospitalized injury	Other	Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c.
4	307100172	Hospitalized injury	Other	Health technologists and technicians, n.e.c.

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