Aliments Prince, S.E.C., is Recalling Approximately 380,000 Pounds of Diced Bacon Products Reason: May be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Through routine testing on July 19, 2011, FSIS found a sample of cooked diced bacon imported from Aliments Prince, S.E.C. to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The initial product represented by that sample was refused entry. An in-depth investigation by the firm and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency into the root cause of the Listeria monocytogenes finding resulted in a recall of all precooked bacon products from the Canadian firm. Packs/Codes: The following product(s) are subject to recall: 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of "Napoli Cooked Bacon Topping" that bear the case code 83600 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of "Stefano Brand Cooked Diced Bacon" that bear the case code 83601 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of "Bellissimo Cooked Diced Bacon" that bear the case code 83602 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of "Olymel Cooked Diced Bacon" that bear the case code 83603 10-lb. shipping container with two 5-lb. packages of "Assoluti Cooked Diced Bacon" that bear the case code 83608 All production dates prior to August 10, 2011, are subject to recall. The labels on the shipping containers have "EST No. 169A" and "Product of Canada." Distribution: [USA ex Canada]: The products were shipped to distribution centers in the U.S. for further distribution to food service institutions. Contact: Retailers with questions about the recall can contact the company at 1-800-361-5800. … [Read more...]
Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. Recalls Layer Dip Products Containing Guacamole
Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. Recalls Layer Dip Products Containing Guacamole Reason: Because the avocado has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the FDA which revealed that the imported AVOCADO PULP used in these products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the use of avocado from the supplier. Packs/Codes: The product can be identified as follows: Product Description UPC Code Use By date code Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 32 oz 29358-11272 09/16/11 and before Delicioso 5 Layer Dip, 15 oz 29358-12229 09/16/11 and before Delicioso 5 Layer Dip, 30 oz 29358-12230 09/16/11 and before Rojo's Ultimate 7 Layer Dip, 36 oz 35196-44162 09/16/11 and before Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 16 oz 35196-44216 09/16/11 and before Rojo's Supreme 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44180 09/16/11 and before Rojo's 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44185 09/16/11 and before Rojo's 6 Layer Dip, 44 oz 47502-44189 09/16/11 and before Fresh Food Concepts 5 Layer Dip, 454 g 35196-44214 09/16/11 and before Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 15 oz 21130-06191 09/16/11 and before Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 30 oz 21130-06192 09/16/11 and before Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 425 g 58200-06034 09/16/11 and before Signature Café 6 Layer Dip, 850 g 58200-06032 09/16/11 and before Product with expiration dates USE BY 09/24/11 and AFTER are made with avocado from a different source and are NOT involved in this recall. No other products made by Fresh Food Concepts are involved in this recall. Distribution: [US & CANADA]: The product was distributed nationwide and Canada through retail supermarkets and club stores. Contact: Retailers with questions about the recall can contact the company at 1-714-562-5000 ext 134, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PDT. … [Read more...]
National Beef Packing Co. Is Recalling Ground Beef Products
National Beef Packing Co. Is Recalling Approximately 60,424 Pounds of Ground Beef Products Reason: May be adulterated with E. coli O157:H7. The problem was discovered as a result of routine microbial testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture at a state-inspected facility that had purchased these products for further processing. A traceback investigation revealed that the slaughter facility, National Beef Packing Co. products were the sole source for the positive product sample. Packs/Codes: The products subject to recall include: Ground beef chubs produced on July 23, 2011 with a Freeze by Date of August 12, 2011: Boxes containing six 10-pound chubs of "National Beef 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck." These can be identified by the product code 483. Boxes containing eight 5-pound chubs of "National Beef 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck." These can be identified by the product code 684. Boxes containing twelve 3-pound chubs of "National Beef 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck." These can be identified by the product code 782 or 785. Boxes containing six 10-pound chubs of "National Beef 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck." These can be identified by the product code 787. Ground beef chubs produced on July 25, 2011 with a Freeze by Date of August 14, 2011: Boxes containing eight 10-pound chubs of "National Beef 81/19 Fine Ground Beef." These can be identified by the product code 431. Boxes containing eight 10-pound chubs of "National Beef 90/10 Fine Ground Beef." These can be identified by the product code 471. Boxes containing six 10-pound chubs of "National Beef 86/14 Fine Ground Round." These can be identified by the product code 494. Each box and chub bears the establishment number "Est. 262" within the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to distributors nationwide for further processing and/or distribution. It is important to note that the products listed above may have been repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp. Distribution: Nationwide. The products were shipped to distributors nationwide for further processing and/or distribution. Contact: Retailers with questions about the recall can contact the company's Vice President of Marketing, Keith Welty, at (816) … [Read more...]
Annual Tradeshows
NMA hosts four Trade Shows that provide special purchasing deals and opportunity to sample and test the latest products before you buy. With four shows covering California, there is something for everyone! Interact with your peers in person as you visit booths featuring new products, services and equipment. … [Read more...]
Communicating Safety to Your Multi-Lingual Workforce
Cal/OSHA requires employers to provide safety training in a language that is understandable to their workers. With today’s multilingual workforce, the attempt to comply with this regulation can be a challenge. In order to assure that all workers understand important safety information, employers first must be aware of their workers’ native languages. They also need to assess their workers’ ability to understand English in written and verbal forms. Then they need to provide instruction in those native languages, provide translators, or translate the safety materials. In order for employers to identify the best way to communicate to their multi-lingual work force; they can test worker understanding using simple and complex written documents and verbal instructions. Workers may be uncomfortable demonstrating that they don’t understand the information presented in English. They may be reluctant to ask for instructions in their own language or for repeated English instructions. A worker may nod their head or say “yes” while you explain something, but may not understand you. Ask the worker to repeat instructions back to you. Ask them to demonstrate the technique, etc. that you just taught them. Encourage workers to ask for help or clarification when they need it. If an employer translates or offers training in another language, the same materials and amount of detail must be covered as the English language training. Interactive training provides workers with hands-on experience and allows them a chance to ask questions. Give simple, direct verbal instructions such as “wear your hardhat” instead of “hard hats are required onsite to protect your health and safety” and give directions in the order that they should be performed. For example, “First, open the door. Then, remove the hardware.” Don’t say, “Remove the hardware after you open the door”. Workplace documents that must be translated include hazard warning signs and lockout-tagout devices and signs. Safety and hazard signs should have pictures and words that everyone can understand. Confirm that all of your employees understand the signs’ directions. If the job has many technical terms for material and equipment, teach workers what the words mean. Translate company safety policies and procedures. Translate equipment manuals and instruction booklets. Provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) in appropriate languages so your workers … [Read more...]
Safety Contact
Neighborhood Market Association provides a safety contact to all of our members. This safety contact is our safety director who has been hired by the association to help the members with any problems or questions they have about safety in their store. Please contact safety director, David Rabban at the NMA office at 619-464-8485 or by email at drabban@neighborhoodmarket.org … [Read more...]
Don’t Get Distracted (from Safety)
Although some workplace distractions and interruptions are unavoidable, many can be controlled or prevented. No matter what the distraction, your first concern should be to keep your mind and your focus on safety – your safety and that of others. Be aware of any distractions you may be causing and take responsibility for not interrupting others. Let your supervisor know about repeated and/or unsafe distractions. Work interruptions are a distraction that can result in work errors or accidents. Before addressing or responding to another person, shut down or disengage any work tool, equipment, or processes. Your job training should include instructions not to interrupt others during a critical job phase or process. Instruction manuals and procedural guidebooks should be kept on site to answer frequently asked questions and thereby eliminate the need to interrupt or distract other workers. External noise from tools, mobile equipment, and processes can be distracting in industrial and construction work environments. In work situations where loud or constant noise is unavoidable, hearing protection devices can eliminate or decrease unwanted and distracting noise. In other work environments even not-so-loud sounds can be a distracting annoyance. Constantly ringing phones, conversations, and loud faxes, copiers, and printers can distract workers from their job tasks or -- depending on the level or duration of the noise -- can contribute to workplace stress. Electronic devices such as cell phones, IPODS, and PDAs can be the source of serious distractions in some work environments. Check with your supervisor to find out if these electronics are allowed where you work. If these devices are approved in your workplace, as a courtesy to your co-workers, make sure you keep your cell phone on a low volume or silent when you work. To maximize work safety and performance, turn email notifications off and disable instant messaging. Don’t answer the phone or emails when you’re in the middle of a task – let it ring to voicemail then check messages later -- preferably on your break time. In some work environments wearing a headset with low volume music can be relaxing to workers and help them to safely focus on their work. However, wearing headphones on a construction or industrial site can be dangerous if it prevents workers from hearing warning signals, mobile equipment backup alarms, and safety instructions. Walking around … [Read more...]
When Push Comes to Shove
Pushing and pulling are common work activities in many work environments. You may be required to push and pull large and small items, levers, cables, boxes, carts and more. Using material handling devices like carts, dollies or hand trucks rather than carrying material is a good idea, but pushing and pulling these devices can strain your back, shoulders and arms if not handled properly. Many things affect the force needed to start and maintain movement of a load including: the weight of the load, the height where the force is applied (handles, conveyor height), posture (bending forward or twisting when pulling), the direction of the force applied (straight on or at an angle), the slope and condition of the surface, the condition of the item to be moved, and the grip of the worker’s shoes on the floor surface. Use the following tips to reduce the risk of injury when pushing and pulling: Eliminate the need to push or pull by using mechanical or gravity fed rollers, mechanized carts, vacuum lifts or powered equipment. Push rather than pull. Pushing a load is generally less stressful on your body because you use the weight of your body and maintain a more neutral posture. When you pull, your body is often twisted and you frequently use only one hand. Use devices that reduce the coefficient of friction between the object being moved and the surface area. For example, mount appropriate casters on carts and movable furniture, assure smooth unbroken surfaces on counters and shelves, use slip sheets for moving patients and sliders for moving heavy items on carpet. Ensure that surfaces are clean and free of debris to reduce physical barriers to movement. Use a vehicle or conveyor that can accommodate the size and weight of the load you are moving. Ensure that the design and type of conveyance is well maintained and appropriate for the item to be moved. Ensure that you are not exceeding the recommended force for pushing your cart or hand truck. Measure the forces and follow recommended guidelines. When possible apply force from approximately elbow height. Add handle extensions or provide vertical handles, ensure that conveyor heights are correct, add platforms to workstations or redesign workplaces so that vertical pulls are not above shoulder height or below knee height. When pushing or pulling heavy objects be sure to use good body mechanics: Tighten your stomach muscles Bend your knees Lean in slightly toward the object you … [Read more...]
Back Belts – Do They Protect Workers?
Back injuries account for a large number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace and cost the economy thousands of dollars. In response to the increasing human and economic costs of back injuries, companies have tried using many devices to lessen the chance of back injury, either in conjunction with or in place of sound ergonomic programs. One such device is the “back belt.” Back belts, also called back supports or abdominal belts, resemble corsets and have been used by some companies in the belief that they prevent worker injury during lifting activities. However, those who rely on back belts to prevent injury should be aware of the lack of scientific evidence supporting their use. The decision to wear a back belt is a choice and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes that workers and employers should have the best available information to make that choice. So NIOSH conducted an extensive study and concluded that there was “insufficient scientific evidence” that wearing back belts protects workers from the risk of job-related back injury. In their study, NIOSH found that the back injury rate among workers who wore back belts every day was “statistically insignificant” from those who didn’t use them regularly. Even employees in the most strenuous types of jobs showed no real difference in either back pain complaints or injury claims when using back belts. A history of back injury was the strongest risk factor for predicting either a back injury claim or reported back pain among employees, regardless of back belt use. NIOSH does not consider back belts to be personal protective equipment and does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent worker injury. They conclude that back belts do not lessen the hazards to workers who lift, push, pull, twist or bend repeatedly. The most effective way to minimize the likelihood of back injury is to develop and implement a comprehensive ergonomics program. The program should include: ergonomic assessment of jobs and workstations to make sure that work activity can be done without exceeding the physical capability and capacity of the worker, on-going, comprehensive training for all workers on lifting mechanics and techniques, a surveillance program to identify potential work-related musculoskeletal problems and, a medical management program. On the basis of available evidence, how effective back belts are in reducing back injuries remains unproven. … [Read more...]
Retail worker safety
Retail workers sell a variety of products in storefronts ranging from department stores and grocery stores to quick stop marts and specialty shops. While the products and the environment may vary, if you are a retail worker, keep your mind on safety while you are doing business. A primary hazard for retail workers is injury due to slips, trips, and falls. Wear sturdy, comfortable footwear with non-slip soles. Maintain good housekeeping around the worksite to avoid tripping hazards. Report spills, uneven flooring, and/or piled debris promptly so they can be cleaned up, repaired, and cleared away. To avoid a fall, use ladders and footstools properly. Ergonomic injuries are another retail worker hazard. Know the signs and symptoms of ergonomic injuries such as numbness, tingling, and/or pain. Report symptoms and injuries to your supervisor. Use good lifting techniques when handling and lifting materials by keeping a straight back and using your leg muscles to power the lift. Avoid excessive or repetitive reaches for materials. Store materials properly so they are easy to access. Rotate your job tasks throughout your work day to avoid repetitive motion injuries. Change your working, standing, and seated positions throughout the day by using anti-fatigue floor mats and footstools to prevent staying in the same position all day (static postures). Pad sharp or hard work surfaces to prevent contact stress to your wrists, arms, and elbows. Take 30 second micro-breaks every 20-30 minutes of work time to give your body a rest and change positions. As a retail worker in a public facility, be aware of workplace violence hazards. Prepare and practice how to handle violence, robberies, and shoplifting if they occur. To discourage robbery and shoplifting, greet people as they enter the store; ask lone shoppers if they need help. Keep the store clean and well-lit. Move around the store periodically. If you work alone, keep the back doors secure. Never exit alone at night to empty the trash. Get training on the security features of your worksite such as panic alarms, surveillance cameras, and time-lock safes for cash. Make sure the store has accurate lighting inside and outside. Ensure that landscaping does not obscure your view outside or provide a place for trespassers to hide. Know and use proper cash management policies by avoiding making deposits alone or at night. Get customer service training to learn how to handle and diffuse angry … [Read more...]
