OSHA Inspection: WHITESTONE FARMS, LLP

Issued

Mar 7, 2006

Abate by

Mar 24, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
At the locations listed below, 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
fall hazards.
The employer failed to ensure that the fixed ladders attached to feed bins
at each barn were
inspected and repaired as necessary.  The ladders were bent and had loose
components.
The ladders attached to feed bins located at the following barns:  Top
North, Top South,
Cornhusker, 7-11, and Blue Ribbon.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
(a)  Develop and implement written procedures requiring that prompt
corrective action
is taken any time a damaged ladder is identified.
(b)  Develop and implement a disciplinary action program and procedures to
ensure
that
employees report damage as it occurs and take action to ensure that the
ladders are not
abused/neglected.
(c)  Take precautions with regards to the fixed ladders to prevent an
accident from
occurring including but not limited to, ensuring all employees receive
training on the
proper methods for safely using ladders.  This should also include
training on the
appropriate methods for inspecting the worksite for related hazards and
then the
development of procedures to report the issues.
(d)  Ensure that all ladders are promptly repaired when they are
identified as damaged
or defective.  This includes any ladders identified during this
inspection.
Abatement certification is required for this violation. The abatement
certification sheet is
enclosed with the citations.

Issued

Mar 7, 2006

Abate by

Apr 26, 2006

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 live electrical components.
The employer failed to ensure that the employees were protected from
contact with live electrical
components including but not limited to live parts located within
uncovered junction boxes,
outlets, light switch enclosures, circuit breaker panels, bare wires
protruding from walls and
enclosures, and motor enclosures.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
(a)  Develop and implement written procedures requiring that prompt
corrective action
is taken any time that an electrical issue is identified.
(b)  Develop and implement a disciplinary action program and procedures to
ensure that
employees report damage as it occurs and take action to ensure that the
electrical fixtures
are not abused/neglected.
(c)  Take precautions with regards to the electrical installations as to
prevent an accident
from happening including but not limited to, ensuring all employees
receive training on
the proper methods for working around electrical fixtures.  This should
also include
training on the appropriate methods for inspecting the worksite for
related hazards and
then the development of procedures to report the issues.
(d)  Ensure that all exposed live electrical parts are promptly repaired
when they are
identified as damaged for defective.  This includes any hazards identified
during this
inspection.
At the following locations, the employer failed to ensure that exposed
live
parts are covered to
prevent accidental contact:
7-11 Barn:
a)  Office Trailer:  Exposed live wires at the furnace.
b)  Barn 2:  Missing cover on the feed motor junction box.
c)  Barn 2:  Missing cover on the feed motor.
d)  Barn 1:  Missing cover on the feed motor.
e)  Barn 3:  Missing dead front panel on a circuit breaker panel.
Cornhusker Barn:
a)  Grower:  Feed line motor, wires pulled away from the junction box.
b)  Grower Closet:  Live 240 volt wires emanating from a junction box.
c)  Grower Closet:  240 volt receptacle damaged and exposing wires.
d)  Grower Closet:  120 volt outlet cover is damaged and exposes the wires
within.e)  Finisher Barn:  Feed motor electrical box is missing a cover
and exposes live parts.
Top North:
a)  Breeder Barn:  Light switch is missing a cover
b)  Breeder Barn:  240 volt fan line has been cut and exposes live parts.
c)  Main Hall:  Circuit breaker panel is missing a dead front.
d)  Breeder Barn:  240 volt outlet is damaged and the receptacle is not
properly
installed.
e)  Barn 1, Farrowing:  240 volt fan switch cover not attached exposing
live parts within.
f)  Barn 3:  240 volt fan switch cover not attached exposing live parts
within.
g)  Nursery:  Feed motor electrical box does not have a cover and exposes
240 volt live
parts.
h)  Finisher:  Feed motor electrical box does not have a cover and exposes
240 volt live
parts.
Top South
a)  Nursery, Northeast Wall:  Fan motor switch cover is loose and exposes
live parts
within.
b)  Nursery, West Wall:  Fan motor switch cover is loose and exposes live
parts within.
c)  Nursery:  Thermostat hanging from wires, not secured to wall.
d)  Main Hall:  Circuit breaker panel has open ports and exposes live
parts within.
e)  Breeder Barn:  Thermostats are hanging from wires.  The live parts are
exposed.
f)  Breeder Barn:  240 volt fan switch is missing a cover and exposes the
live parts
within.
g)  Boot Room:  Circuit Breaker panel is missing cover and exposed the
live parts
within.
Blue Ribbon
a)  Breeding Barn:  Thermostat is missing a cover and exposes the 120 volt
parts within.
b)  Breeding Barn, near the front door:  The light switch and junction box
do not have
covers and expose the 120 volt parts within.
c)  Farrowing Room 8:  Junction box located on the ceiling does not have a
cover and
exposes the 120 volt wires within.
d)  Nursery:  Feed motor is missing a cover and exposes 240 volt live
parts.
Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this
violation. The
documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable
measurements or
monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be
helpful. The abatement
certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.

Issued

Mar 7, 2006

Abate by

Apr 10, 2006

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 live electrical components in
wet or damp
locations.
Electrical fixtures were found to be either in a state of disrepair or not
designed for use in that
environment.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
(a)  Develop and implement written procedures requiring that prompt
corrective action
is taken any time that an electrical issue is identified.
(b)  Develop and implement a disciplinary action program and procedures to
ensure that
employees report damage as it occurs and take action to ensure that the
electrical fixtures
are not abused/neglected.
(c)  Take precautions with regards to the electrical installations as to
prevent an accident
from happening including but not limited to, ensuring all employees
receive training on
the proper methods for working around electrical fixtures.  This should
also include
training on the appropriate methods for inspecting the worksite for
related hazards and
then the development of procedures to report the issues.
(d)  Ensure that all electrical fixtures exposed to wet or damp locations
are promptly
repaired when they are identified as damaged or defective.  This includes
any hazards
identified during this inspection.
At the following locations, the employer failed to ensure that live
electrical components in wet
or damp locations were properly maintained and designed for use in that
environment:
Top South
a)  Nursery, South End:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not properly
installed in
the fixture.
Blue Ribbon
a)  Breeding Barn:  Four light fixtures were observed hanging from the
wires and not
properly installed in the fixtures.
b)  Farrowing Room 1:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not properly
installed in
the fixture.
c)  Farrowing Room 7:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not properly
installed in
the fixture.
d)  Nursery:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not properly installed
in the fixture.
Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this
violation. The
documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable
measurements or
monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be
helpful. The abatement
certification sheet is enclosed with the citations.

Issued

Mar 7, 2006

Abate by

Apr 17, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Mar 7, 2006

Abate by

Mar 24, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced