OSHA Inspection: SCHURING FARMS, INC.

Issued

Jul 31, 2009

Abate by

Mar 1, 2010

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 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 recognized hazards of asphyxiation, chemical exposure,
and physical injury
associated with not having developed and implemented confined space entry
and rescue systems
procedures:
(a)  On or about May 18, 2009, for the employees who entered the manifold
control pit
to repair a broken valve, two employees were hospitalized after being
overcome by toxic
gases in the confined space at Schuring Farms, located at 507 South Second
Street,
Andover, South Dakota.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to implement a confined space program including a survey of
spaces, hazard
identification and evaluation, a written program, training and atmospheric
testing as
described in ANSI Z117.1-2003, American National Standards Institute -
Safety
Requirements for Confined Spaces.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (see
enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").tion

Issued

Jul 31, 2009

Abate by

Sep 3, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250

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 falling and restricted means of egress from a
confined space while
using a damaged ladder:
(a)  On or about May 18, 2009, for the employees who entered the manifold
control pit
using a damaged ladder to repair a broken valve at Schuring Farms, located
at 507 South
Second Street, Andover, South Dakota.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is to
develop and implement a written procedure to inspect ladders before each
use as
identified in ANSI A14.2-1972, American National Standards Institute -
Safety
Requirements for Portable Metal Ladders.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see
enclosed "Sample
Abatement Certification Letter").tion