OSHA Inspection: COTTONWOOD FEEDERS I, LTD.

Issued

Jan 29, 1997

Abate by

Feb 18, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1803

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 condition(s) listed below:
a)  On or about December 3, 1996, employees working as feed truck
operators used an LP gas
torch to heat the interior of a storage tank containing tallow, used as an
ingredient in cattle feed.
This torch, which was not equipped with any form of regulator or other
safety device, was lit
and inserted into the top of the tank to heat the interior.  It was left
unattended for over an hour
and created an explosive mixture of LP gas and air inside the tank after
it went out.  Employees
were thus exposed to the hazards of explosion and fire from the ignition
of this explosive gas
mixture.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is
to prohibit the use of such a torch to heat the interior of tanks
containing fat or molasses.g

Issued

Jan 29, 1997

Abate by

Mar 18, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 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 condition(s) listed below:
a) On or about November 30, 1996, employees climbed on top of the molasses
and tallow tanks
to gain access to the interior of these tanks through hatches on top of
these tanks.  They were
thus exposed to the hazards of falling from a height of up to fifteen
feet, including but not
limited to: contusions, concussion, broken bones, and death.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard include:
1) the installation of standard railings along the edges of elevated
surfaces and platforms on
which employees work;
2) the use of fall protection harnesses and lifelines by employees while
working on elevated
surfaces and platforms.

Issued

Jan 29, 1997

Abate by

Mar 18, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1803

Issued

Jan 29, 1997

Abate by

Mar 18, 1997

Hazardous substances 1803