OSHA Inspection: FRANK T. WILLIAMS FARM

Issued

Feb 25, 1999

Abate by

Mar 2, 1999

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Title 40.1-51.1.(A) Code of Virginia:  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:
On September 7, 1998 employees of Frank T. Williams' Farm were exposed to
an
approx. 44 foot fall from the roof of an approx. 47 foot tall grain tank
while
working from the unprotected roof to inspect the quality of the grain
stored
inside.  The employer provided safety harnesses and lanyards to employees,
but
did not require their use by employees who were inspecting the quality of
the
grain in the storage tanks.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this
hazard is to provide and require usage of a safety harness and lanyard,
when
employees are working from tank roofs - similar to the requirements in the
VOSH
Standard for Construction 1926.501(b)(1) - Fall protection for unprotected
sides
and edges - which states that each employee on a walking/working surface
with an
unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall
be
protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net
systems, or
personal fall arrest systems.

Issued

Feb 25, 1999

Abate by

Mar 2, 1999

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Title 40.1-51.1.(A) Code of Virginia:  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:
On September 7, 1998, the employer did not determine if the grain storage
tank
had the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely,
prior to
employees accessing the roof of the approx. 47 foot tall tank for the
purpose of
inspecting the quality of the grain stored inside.  On August 28, 1998, the
Tidewater Virginia area and the worksite were struck by Hurricane Bonnie.
The
very strong winds and gusts from the hurricane caused structural damage to
a
number of buildings and structures on the farm.  Employees were exposed to
a fall
hazard of approximately 44 feet from the roof of the tank, to a crushing
hazard
from the collapse of the upper five wall bands of the tank, and to an
engulfment
and asphyxiation hazard from the grain stored inside the tank.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this
hazard is to thoroughly inspect all farm buildings and structures,
including the
grain storage tanks, for damage after adverse weather conditions - similar
to the
requirements in the VOSH Standard for Construction 1926.501(a)(2) -
Strength and
structural integrity of walking/working surfaces - which states that the
employer
shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are
to
work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees
safely.es