OSHA Inspection: HENRY ALLEN WOOTEN DBA WOOTEN FARMING AND SEED

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 27, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $910 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment
and a place of employment free
from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were exposed to crushing and similar injuries while working
in a or around a tobacco baler:
a) Tobacco baling operation - Two employees were standing inside of a
Taylor "Big Foot" tobacco baler,
taping cardboard boxes to the inside walls of the baler, while the baler
was not de-energized to prevent the
plunger from becoming activated and crushing them.
b) Tobacco baling operation - Two employees were reaching in between the
plunger and walls of the chamber
while the plunger was compressing tobacco, exposing them to the pinch
points between these parts.
c) Tobacco baling operation - One employee was leaning against the door
while the plunger of the baler was
compressing tobacco. The pressure could cause the door to unlatch and
spring
open, striking the employee
without enough force to cause injury.
Abatement Notice: One feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to
train and ensure that employees
operate the machine according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 27, 2009

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $325 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish each of his employees conditions of employment
and a place of employment free
from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were exposed to shock and/or burns from an improperly wired
conveyor system.
a) Conveyor System located under the shelter across from the office - The
electrical switch box used to power
the cylindrical rotating drum was missing a cover and the live electrical
wires were exposed.
b) Conveyor System located under the shelter across from the office - The
110-120 volt AC 15-20 amp
electrical switch box used to power the conveyor belt was not effectively
closed in that an unused opening on
top of the junction box was open.
c) Conveyor System located under the shelter across from the office - The
110-120 volt AC 15-20 amp
electrical switch box used to power the conveyor belt was not approved for
this use.
d) Conveyor System located under the shelter across from the office - The
non-metalic (NM) cable (Romex)
from the motor was connected to the 110-120 volt AC 15-20 amp switch in
the junction box and then spliced
into a flexible cord outside of the box.
e) Conveyor System located under the shelter across from the office -
Power to the motor was supplied
through a flexible cord wrapped around the beams of the shelter and around
the frame of the conveyor
system.
Abatement Notice: One feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to
have a licensed electrician wire this
equipment in accordance with the National Electric Code.

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 25, 2009

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $455 Reduced

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 25, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $910 Reduced

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 27, 2009

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Feb 19, 2009

Abate by

Feb 25, 2009