OSHA Inspection: MAINE CONTRACT FARMING, LLC

Issued

Nov 30, 2000

Abate by

Dec 18, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 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 a fire or explosion hazard from the lack of physical
barriers protecting outdoor
LP gas storage tanks as well as the presence of grass and combustible
materials around such
tanks:
In the following instances, employee(s) were exposed to fire and/or
explosion hazard
from the operation of farm vehicles in close proximity to unprotected LP
gas storage
tanks as well as the presence of grass and other combustible materials
around such tanks:
a)Brooder Barn #5 - On or about 06/15/00 a sanitation crew employee
operating
Manure Truck and Ford Loader during manure clean-out of barn was exposed to
a fire/explosion hazard when operating these farm vehicles in close
proximity to
the unprotected, six one-thousand gallon LP gas storage tanks.
b)Brooder Barn #2, Poland, Maine - On or about 06/19/00 the employer had
not
assured that grass and other combustible material was removed from the
grounds
around the LP gas storage tank and that a physical barrier was present to
protect
the tank from damage from vehicular traffic.
Abatement Note:
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to assure maintenance of grounds, with a minimum of 10 feet, around all LP
storage tanks to
assure removal of all grass and other combustible material as well as
installation of physical
barriers such as concrete/metal posts, jersey barriers to protect LP tanks
from vehicular damage.ar

Issued

Nov 30, 2000

Abate by

Feb 1, 2001

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 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 biological contamination (animal feces) by being permitted
to eat in unsanitary
locations:
Employees were permitted to consume food and beverages in manure trucks
contaminated
with animal feces. In the following instances noted during the inspection,
work crews
were not provided sanitary eating facilities:
a)Brooder Barn #5 - On or about 06/15/00 a sanitation crew employee
performing
manure clean-out of a barn was not provided sanitary eating facilities and
was
permitted to consume food and beverages in manure trucks contaminated with
animal feces.
b)Plant #4, Barn 42 - On or about 06/16/00 a wash crew employee performing
barn
washing and manure clean-out with a Bobcat loader was not provided sanitary
eating facilities and was permitted to consume food and beverages in manure
trucks contaminated with animal feces.
c)Plant #4, Barn 42 - On or about 06/16/00 a wash crew employee performing
barn
washing and manure clean-out with Bobcat loader was not provided sanitary
eating facilities and was permitted to consume food and beverages in manure
trucks contaminated with animal feces.
Abatement Note:
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to provide and enforce of use of washing facilities and sanitary eating
location.

Issued

Nov 30, 2000

Abate by

Dec 4, 2000

Penalty

Initial $15,000 · Current $7,500 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 inhalation hazards by the use of respirators in a
unsanitary condition and the
lack of assurance that procedures were followed as to how respirators were
to be cleaned and
disinfected:
During the inspection, when respiratory protection was required to protect
the health of
employees, it was determined that employees performing the job tasks
listed below had
used respirators in an unsanitary condition and that the employer had not
assured that
procedures were followed as to how respirators were to be cleaned and
disinfected to
assure they are kept in a sanitary condition:
a)Brooder Barn #5 - On or about 06/15/00 a sanitation crew employee
performing
manure clean-out of barn had worn a respirator that was not maintained in a
sanitary condition. Procedures as to how the full-facepiece respirator was
to be
cleaned and disinfected was not provided. Visible fecal contamination was
noted
on the inside and outside of the respirator.
b)Plant #4, Barn 42 - On or about 06/16/00 a wash crew employee performing
barn
washing and manure clean-out with a Bobcat loader had worn a respirator
that
was not maintained in a sanitary condition. Procedures as to how the
half-mask
respirator was to be cleaned and disinfected was not provided. Visible
fecal
contamination was noted on the inside and outside of the respirator.
c)Plant #4, Barn 42 - On or about 06/16/00 a wash crew employee performing
barn
washing and manure clean-out with a Bobcat loader had worn a respirator
that
was not maintained in a sanitary condition. Procedures as to how the
half-mask
respirator was to be cleaned and disinfected was not provided. Visible
fecal
contamination was noted on the inside and outside of the respirator.
Abatement Note:
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to ensure that procedures are in place and followed to assure that
employees are instructed as
to how all respirators will be cleaned and disinfected.
Maine Contract Farming, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this
occupational safety
and health standard or its equivalent standard, section 5(a)(1), which was
contained in OSHA
inspection number 301664231, Citation Number 2, item 3, issued on
05/28/99, with respect to
a workplace located in Turner, Maine.