OSHA Inspection: FARMERS COOPERATIVE GIN - BUSINESS OFFICE

Issued

Mar 6, 2006

Abate by

Mar 30, 2006

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $525 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:
For the period of time up to and including 12/08/05, employees were not
protected from
electrical hazards due to the following condition:
a)  An electrical panel box containing circuit breakers near the lint
cleaner had openings in the
front, thus permitting combustible cotton lint to accumulate on the
circuit breakers and exposing
employees to contact with electrical current.
b) An electrical panel box containing circuit breakers near the bale press
area was equipped with
a makeshift front panel made out of cardboard and tape. Employees were
exposed to the hazards
of fire from ignition of cotton lint and electrical shock from contact
with the current.
Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 547.5(C)(1) states
"Equipment
enclosures, boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings installed in areas of
buildings where excessive
dust may be present shall be designed to minimize the entrance of dust and
shall have not
openings (such as holes for attachment screws) through which dust could
enter the enclosure.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to ensure all
electrical equipment
is installed / maintained in accordance with Article 547 of the National
Electric Code.
"Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentation
that this
violation has been abated within 10 calendar days after the abatement
date."ent