OSHA Inspection: KB COMPOST SERVICES INC.

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-09-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 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.  The hazards of falling approximately 6 feet through a conveyor chute
opening to another
moving conveyor and steel rollers below where there was no cover or
standard guardrail
provided at the chute opening.  The opening was adjacent to walkways in
use and was
approximately 20 inches by 43 inches.  The three sides where the conveyor
belt did not enter
had a sheet metal frame in place.  The two short ends had sheet metal
extending up
approximately 27 1/2 inches above the flooring and on the longer North
side, sheet metal
extended approximately 18 1/2 inches above the flooring.
B.  The hazards of falling on to the moving upper conveyor existed when
the
conveyor was
crossed or ridden to access and egress machinery in use out over the
reactors.  A fall from the
upper conveyor, through the chute, to the lower conveyor was in excess of
7 feet.  The
conveyors both moved approximately 4.2 feet per second and were at right
angles to each other.
The conveyor was provided an emergency stop pull cord that was difficult
to reach when on the
approximately 32 inch wide conveyor belt in that the belt sloped up
approximately 14 inches on
the sides and the cable was approximately 16 inches below the upper edge
of the belt.  To access
the cable from the belt required one to reach through adjacent rail
support brackets which would
deflect an arm attempting to reach the cable.  The Reactor area conveyor
belt was not provided
other stop buttons, bars or interlocks to protect a person on the moving
belt.  The  chute opening
was not provided grating or conspicuously posted warning signs.
Methods of abatement may include, but are not limited to, the use of ANSI
B20.1-1997
Section
5 GENERAL SAFETY STANDARDS: 5.9.1.4 Maintenance of Guards and Safety
Devices
which requires "Guards and safety devices shall be maintained in a
serviceable and operational
condition."  Section 5.11.2 (c) Controls which requires remotely and
automatically controlled
conveyors be furnished with emergency stop devices such as emergency stop
buttons, pull cords,
limit switches or similar emergency stop device easily identifiable in the
immediate vicinity of
the conveyor path.  Section 5.12 Operation (d) which prohibits persons
from riding on
conveyors except on slow moving assembly conveyors that travel 80 feet per
minute maximum
or the conveyor incorporates a station specifically designed for operating
personnel. and (h)
"Routine inspections and corrective maintenance measures shall be
conducted to ensure that all
guards and safety features are retained and function properly"  5.14
Hoppers and Chutes
requires : "All openings to hoppers and chutes shall be guarded to prevent
personnel from
accidentally stepping into them or allowing any part of their body to make
contact with
conveyors below them."  Where not practical, substantial grating with
openings no larger than
2 inches and or warning signs conspicuously posted are required. Section 6
SPECIFIC
SAFETY STANDARDS: 6.1.2 (c) Belt Conveyors - fixed in Place - Operation and
Maintenance which permits the use of portable emergency stop controllers
in lieu of
permanently installed pull cords for maintenance personnel who patrol
overland conveyors.
OR,IN THE ALTERNATIVE:
29 CFR 1910.22(c):  Covers and or guardrails were not provided to protect
personnel from the
hazards of open pits, tanks, vats ditches, etc.:
In the reactor transfer car area, the employer did not ensure that
conveyor chute opening
approximately 20 inches by 43 inches at floor level in a walkway area was
provided
a cover or
standard guardrail system.  Sheet metal/plate metal existed up to
approximately 18 1/2 inches
on one side of the opening and 27 1/2 inches on the short ends.

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1750.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-08-05 00:00:00

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-08-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-08-20 00:00:00

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-09-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-09-04 00:00:00

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-09-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1750.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

Issued

1999-08-02 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-09-04 00:00:00