Food 4 Less: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 25, 2000: Employee's pelvis fractured in fall from forklift pallet

Employee #1 was on a pallet elevated on a forklift when she fell approximately 7 ft to the ground. She suffered a fractured pelvis and left elbow.

Incident on Mar 8, 1999: Employees suffer from exposure to carbon monoxide

On March 3, 1999, Employees #1 through #13 and coworkers, including cashiers, st ock clerks, and a meat cutter, arrived for work at a grocery store in Lodi, CA. A contractor had been operating a power buffer that morning before the store ope ned. The power buffer was propane-powered, but the contractor had been using a c anister of liquid propane instead of a canister of propane gas. As a result, an excessive amount of carbon monoxide had built up throughout the store. Employees began to experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, weakness, and chest tightness. The Lodi Fire Department was called and it measured a carbon m onoxide level of 160 ppm upon entering the store. The store was evacuated and Em ployees #1 through #13 were sent to the hospital for evaluation, then released. Factors contributing to the incident included failure of the store to monitor th e air for carbon monoxide; improper use of the power buffer by the contractor; a nd lack of knowledge on the part of the employer of the symptoms of carbon monox ide exposure. The employer was cited for 1) failure to inspect the power buffer, even though it was a new piece of equipment brought to the work site; 2) failur e to conduct carbon monoxide measurements when employees exhibited symptoms of o verexposure; and 3) a missing cover plate/circuit breaker on an electrical panel .

Incident on Mar 1, 1996: Employee stabbed by suspected shoplifter

On March 1, 1996, Employee #1 was stabbed on the upper left arm by a subject bei ng apprehended for shoplifting. Employee #1 suffered a severed artery and was ho spitalized.

Incident on Mar 26, 1994: Employee fractures foot by riding truck with foot outside

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on March 26, 1994, Employee #1 was operating an indus trial truck. He had his foot outside the operator's compartment while driving th e truck in reverse. His foot became caught between the truck and a guard post. E mployee #1 suffered broken bones of his right foot.

Incident on Jul 19, 1991: Employee's fingers cut by meat machine

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on July 19, 1991, Employee #1 was using an electric tenderizing machine to process meat for sale. When he lifted the plastic interlo ck guard to reinsert a piece of meat that did not flow into the slot designed fo r that purpose, the cotton glove on his right hand became entangled in the machi ne's steel blade. Employee #1 sustained lacerations to his right ring and middle fingers.

Incident on Mar 5, 1991: Employee's fingers partially amputated in meat saw

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on March 5, 1991, Employee #1, an experienced journey man meat cutter, was using a meat saw to cut a pork loin into chops. He had been talking to a coworker and turned back to the table to cut the loin. For some re ason, his left hand came in front of the saw blade. Two of his fingers struck th e blade and were partially amputated. He later stated that the blade guard was d own as far as possible, the guide was in place, and that everything was in good working order. He had been given safety training by the employer and stated that he thought of himself as very safety conscious. No safety violations were found during the inspection.

Incident on Oct 23, 1990: Employee lacerated in fall descending stepladder

Employee #1, age 19, was descending a 5 1/2 ft high ladder stand, facing away fr om the ladder. He was carrying four cases in front of him that weighed a total o f 48 lb. Employee #1 lost his balance and fell forward off the ladder stand. He sustained multiple lacerations, but was not hospitalized.