OSHA Inspection: GREEN CIRCLE GROWERS, INC. PLANT #1

Issued

Nov 18, 2009

Abate by

Dec 15, 2009

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 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 fall hazard of 7 feet 6 inches on to a
concrete floor and were at
risk of serious injury including but not limited to sprains, contusions,
fractures, and death:
a) Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or about June
16, 2009, while emptying the bags of Perlite into the feed hopper,
employees working in the
soil room were exposed to a fall of 7 feet 6 inches from an elevate work
platform on to the
concrete floor.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement to
correct this
hazard is to comply with the American National Standard ANSI/ASSE Z1264.1
Safety
Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access:
Workplace,
Floor, Wall, and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrails Systems, Section 5.1
Open-Sided
Floor and Platform.
In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required
for this
violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET),
and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete
must be
included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is
not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of
abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 18, 2009

Abate by

Jan 30, 2010

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 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 electrical hazards, including but not
limited
to, electrical
shock and electrocution:
a) Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or about
June 18, 2009, while replacing a 480 volts AC 3-phase disconnect in the
orchid range
the employee turned off the electrical supply but did not affix a lock to
the energy
source.  No written hazardous energy control procedures were available for
the
employee to use to ensure that risk of exposure to hazards were eliminated
or
minimized before performing work on the circuit.  The employee was not
aware of
the hazards associated with the unexpected energizing of the circuit and
the hazards
associated with not utilizing lockout procedures.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement to
correct this
hazard is to comply with the American National Standard ANSI/ASSE
Z244.1-2003 standard
- Control  of Hazardous Energy Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods,
Section 5.1.2
Written Program, Section 5.3.1.1 Hazardous Energy Control Procedures, and
Section 5.5.2
Training.
In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required
for this
violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET),
and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete
must be
included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is
not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of
abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 18, 2009

Abate by

Jan 30, 2010

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 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 electrical hazards, including but not
limited
to, electrical
shock, electrocution, thermal burns from arc flash, and impact injuries
from arc explosion:
(a)  Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or
about June 17, 2009, while performing work on the overhead stacker an
employee
used the test leads attached to a Sperry DSA-500 Digisnap multimeter to
verify that
the motor circuit was energized  with 480 volts AC, 3-phase electricity.
Employees
were not aware of the proper approach distances, were not aware of the
electrical/arc
flash hazards associated with the task, were not provided personal
protective
equipment, such as, voltage rated gloves, flame retardent clothing,
face/head
switching hood or the properly rated voltage face shield.
(b)  Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or
about June 18, 2009, while troubleshooting the air conditioning unit on
the
orchid
range, an employee used a Sperry DSA-500 Digisnap multimeter equipped with
test
leads to verify that the 480 volts AC 3-phase circuit to an air
conditioner was
energized.  Employees were not aware of the proper approach distances,
were not
aware of the electrical/arc flash hazards associated with the task, were
not provided
the personal protective equipment, such as, voltage rated gloves, flame
retardent
clothing, face/head switching hood or the properly rated voltage face
shield.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement to
correct this
hazard is to comply with the National Fire Protection Association 70E,
Electrical Safety in
the Workplace, including but not limited to Section 110.6 Training
Requirements, Section
110.7 Electrical Safety Program, and  Section 130.7, Personal and Other
Protective
Equipment.
In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required
for this
violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET),
and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete
must be
included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is
not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of
abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 18, 2009

Abate by

Dec 15, 2009

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 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 hazards of the respiratory system including but
not limited to,
airborne particulates from peat moss and other potting soil ingredients
and aerosols and
vapors from pesticides:
(a)  Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or
about June 16, 2009, and continuing on a daily basis, employees working in
the soil
room were exposed to airborne dust particles from peat moss and other
potting soil
ingredients.  Wearing of the tight-fitting, negative pressure,
elastomeric, half-mask
respirator equipped with organic vapor/particulate cartridges was required
by the
employer and use of the respirator was enforced by production supervisors.
The
employer did not have a respirator program to ensure employees were
properly
trained, fit tested, medically evaulated and knew how to properly select a
respirator and cartridges.
(b)  Green Circle Growers, Inc., 51051 U.S. Highway 20, Oberlin, Ohio:  On
or
about June 16, 2009, and on a routine basis, employees applying liquid
biocides wore
tight-fitting, negative-pressure, elastomeric, half-mask respirators.  The
employer did
not have a respirator program to ensure employees were properly trained,
fit tested,
medically evaluated and knew how to properly select a respirator and
cartridges.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement to
correct this
hazard is to comply with the American National Standard ANSI/AIHA Z88.1
Respiratory
Protection and ANSI/AIHA Z88.6 Respiratory Protection - Respirator Use -
Physical
Qualifications for Personnel standards.
In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required
for this
violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET),
and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete
must be
included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is
not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of
abatement, or other written records.