OSHA Inspection: WHITESTONE FARMS, LLP

Issued

Mar 15, 2006

Abate by

Apr 17, 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:
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.  This
includes the feed bins located at Platte Ridge Breeding, Platte Ridge One,
and Platte Ridge Two.
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 damaged ladders are promptly repaired when they are
identified as
damaged or defective.  This includes any hazards identified during this
inspection.
Abatement certification is required for this violation. The abatement
certification sheet is
enclosed with the citations.

Issued

Mar 15, 2006

Abate by

May 9, 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 or defective.  This includes any hazards identified
during this
inspection.
At the following locations, the employer failed to ensure that live
electrical parts were protected
from contact by employees:
Platte Ridge Breeding:
a)Barn 1:  Junction box without a cover at pen 15.
b)Barn 1:  Junction box over the main walkway with protruding live wires.
c)Barn 1:  Open holes in junction box exposing wires within.
Platte Ridge Two:
a)Hallway between gestation and farrowing:  Circuit breaker panel without
a cover.
b)Farrow Room 1:  Feed motor missing cover exposing live wires.
c)Farrow Room 1:  Pressure washer has the cord pulled away from the box
exposing the live wires within.
d)Farrow Room 3 and 4:  Side wall fan; conduit with live wires protruding
from
the end. e)Nursery:  Thermostat box is missing cover exposing live parts.
Platte Ridge One:
a)Gestation Barn:  Junction box missing cover exposing wires within.
b)Gestation Barn:  Wall fan switch at north end is missing a cover.
c)Farrowing South:  The light switches (2) are missing a cover and exposes
the
live
parts within.
d)Farrowing South:  Receptacle with a broken plug protruding exposing live
parts.
e)Nursery:  North End; outlets missing a cover exposing the parts within.
f)Nursery:  Junction box without a cover and exposes live parts.
g)Nursery:  Receptacles without a cover exposing 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 15, 2006

Abate by

May 9, 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.
The electrical fixtures in question were 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:
Platte Ridge Breeding:
a)Barn 1 Hallway:  Light fixture hanging from wires.
b)Barn 1:  11 light fixtures hanging from wires and not maintained for the
environment.
c)Barn 2, East Side:  11 light fixtures hanging from wires and not
maintained
for
the environment.
d)Barn 2, West Side:  5 light fixtures hanging from wires and not
maintained for
the environment.
e)Barn 3, East Side:  2 light fixtures hanging from wires and not
maintained for the
environment.
Platte Ridge Two:a)Gestation, North end of Barn:  1 light fixture hanging
from wires and not
maintained for the environment.
b)Farrowing Rooms 1 and 2:  22 light fixtures without globes allowing
water to
enter the fixture.
c)Farrowing Room 1:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not maintained
for the
environment.
d)Farrowing Room 3 and 4:  Missing globe and corrosion to fixture.
e)Nursery:  10 light fixtures without globes allowing water to enter the
fixture.
f)Nursery:  Light fixture hanging from wires and not maintained for the
environment.
Platte Ridge One:
a)Gestation:  22 light fixtures without globes allowing water to enter the
fixture.
b)Gestation:  2 light fixtures hanging from wires and not maintained for
the
environment.
c)Farrowing South:  5 light fixtures hanging from wires and not maintained
for the
environment.
d)Farrowing South:  22 light fixtures without globes allowing water to
enter 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 15, 2006

Abate by

Apr 17, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Mar 15, 2006

Abate by

Apr 3, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced