OSHA Inspection: COTTON CENTER FARMERS CO-OP GIN

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Mar 10, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 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 condition(s) listed below:
On December 10, 2008, and for a period of time prior to that date,
employees at the Cotton
Center Co-Op Gin were exposed to the hazard of ignition of combustible
fibers and flyings, in
the form of cotton lint, by electrical equipment that did not comply with
the provisions of the
National Electrical Code (NEC):
a) An electrical box on the north side of the south bale press had a
series of unstopped holes in
the base, which permitted cotton lint to accumulate inside the box. This
did not comply with
NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1): "All boxes and fittings shall be dusttight."
b) An electrical box in the press pit for the south bale press was missing
the
front cover entirely,
allowing cotton lint to cover all the wiring inside the box and enter the
conduit attached to it.
This did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1): "All boxes and
fittings shall be
dusttight."
c) A conduit body and attached electrical box on the floor adjacent to the
east side of the south
bale press had uncovered openings, which permitted cotton lint to
accumulate inside the box and
to enter the conduit. This did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1):
"All boxes and
fittings shall be dusttight."
d) A flexible wire connected to a valve control on the east side of the
south bale press had the
outer insulation pulled loose from the connector on the control. This
compromised the integrity
of the seal and did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(2): "Where
necessary to employ
flexible connections, dusttight flexible connectors, liquidtight flexible
metal conduit with listed
fittings, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit with listed fittings,
or flexible cord in
comformance with 503.140 shall be used."
One reasonable and effective form of abatement would be to effectively
seal the openings in the
electrical boxes and replace or repair the flexible wire connection, in
the instances noted above.

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Apr 15, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced