OSHA Inspection: ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO.

Issued

Aug 26, 1987

Abate by

Sep 29, 1987

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $315 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to
the hazards of being struck by, crushed by, or thrown from moving
railroad cars:
a) When moving railroad cars on the inclined north spur by gravity,
provisions were not taken to ensure that all employees were out of
the travel path of cars being moved.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish written standard operating procedure
which would include, at a minimum, the following provisions:
1) Training of employees in both the hazards involved and the correct
operating procedure;
2) Constant direct visual and/or audible communications between
employees on the same track during car movement;
3) Wheel chocking;
4) Testing of hand brakes before release of air brakes;
5) Prohibition of employees from being on positioned cars or on the
track between the car being moved and the end of the spur;
6) Use of a track flagging system when employees are permitted on cars.