OSHA Inspection: MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Issued

Mar 7, 1997

Abate by

Aug 22, 1997

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,763 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:
(a)  On or about and at times prior to December 13, 1996, employee(s) were
exposed
to the hazards associated with being crushed between moving railcars and
railcars
improperly parked at rail intersections and switches located in the
employer's rail
yard at Wahpeton, North Dakota.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
eliminate this
hazard would be to provide radio communication between crews involved in
railcar
movement in order to avoid injury where two engines may be working at both
ends of
a track or tracks, provide limit markers that will ensure adequate
clearances between
moving railcars and railcars that are parked near track intersections and
switches and
develop written operating procedures concerning railcar movement along with
enhanced training for employees who work in the rail yard.