OSHA Inspection: YOAKUM COUNTY COOP GIN

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $500.00 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:
Yoakum County Co-Op Gin, 1270 U.S. Hwy. 82, Plains, Texas. For the period
of time up to
and including November 12, 2009, the employer did not ensure that
employees were protected
from electrical hazards due to the following conditions:
a) A 240 volts electrical panel box used for the lights and the gin stands
had unused
openings.
b) The electrical panel box used for the lights and gin stands was not
labelled.
c) A cover was missing on a junction located on the dryer located south of
the gin stands.
d) A cover was missing from a junction box on conduit connected to the
electrical panel box
used to turn on the lights and the gin stands.
e) An unused opening located on the left side of the electrical panel box
used for lights and
gin stands located on the north wall.
Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 547.6 states
"Switches, including
pushbuttons, relays, and similar devices, receptacles, circuit breakers,
controllers, and fuses,
shall be provided with enclosure as specified in 547.5(C).
Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 547.5(C)(1) states
"Equipment
enclosures, boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings installed in areas of
buildings where excessive
dust may be present shall be designed to minimize the entrance of dust and
shall have not
openings (such as holes for attachment screws) through which dust could
enter the enclosure.
Under the National Electric Code (NEC 2005), Article 110.22 states "Each
disconnecting means
shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose unless located and
arranged
so the purpose is
evident. The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the
environment involved."
One feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to ensure all
electrical equipment is
installed/maintained in accordance with Articles 547 and 110 of the
National Electric code.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $525.00 · Current $300.00 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:
Yoakum County Co-Op Gin, 1270 U.S. Hwy. 82, Plains, Texas. For the period
of time up to
and including November 12, 2009, the employer did not ensure that a
Caterpillar forklift, serial
#AT3500458, model #240.00 was operated according to the National Fire
Safety Code.
a) Employees were not trained and certified.
b) The forklift was operated without an inoperable back up alarm.
Under the National Fire Safety Code (NFPA) 2006), Article 8.6.1 states,
"There shall be a
written operating procedure plan and operator training revellent to the
location
of use and type
of truck.
Under the National Fire Safety Code (NFPA 2006), Article 8.6.2 states,
"The procedure shall
include, as a minimum, the following:
(1) Operating limited to trained personnel
(2) Cautions where checking or filling tank
(3) Action for suspected leak
(4) Refueling instructions
(5) Emergency items
(a) Shut off fuel valve
(b) Correct battery type and position
(c) Fire emergency procedures
(6) Hazardous location classifications and markings
(7) Industrial truck designations and markings
Under the National Fire Safety Code (NFPA 2006), Article 7.1.2 states "
Any power-operated
industrial truck that is not in safe operating condition shall be removed
from service.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to provide forklift
training
to all
employees who operate forklifts.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $500.00 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:
Yoakum County Co-Op Gin, 1270 U.S. Hwy. 82, Plains, Texas. For the period
of time up to
and including November 12, 2009, employees were not protected from trips
slips and fall
hazards due to the following conditions:
a) The catwalk used to replace parts on the stick machine did not have a
mid rail installed
to the guardrail. The catwalk was 14 feet and 8 inches above the floor.
b) #3 gin stand from the right had floor opening more than 2 inches wide
where
an auger
was turning.
Under the American National Standard A12.1 1973, paragraph 3.2 states
"Every ladderway,
floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a guardrailing with a
toeboard on all exposed
sides (except entrance to opening), and with the passage through the
railing provided so that a
person cannot walk directly into the opening.
Under the American National Standard A12.1 1973, paragraph 3.9 states
"Every floor hole into
which persons cannot accidentally walk (because of pipes, fixed machinery,
equipment, or walls)
shall be protected by a cover that leaves no opening more than 2 inches
wide. The cover shall
be securely held in place to prevent tools or materials from falling
through.
One feasible and acceptable method would be to ensure all walking/working
surfaces are
installed/maintained in accordance with A12.1 of the ANSI Standards.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $525.00 · Current $300.00 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:
Yoakum County Co-Op Gin, 1270 U.S. Hwy. 82, Plains, Texas. For the period
of time up to
and including November 12, 2009, the employer did not ensure that
employees
were protected
from fire hazards due to the following conditions:
a) Fire extinguishers were sitting on the floor and not mounted on the
wall.
b) Fire extinguishers had been used and placed in service which were not
fully charged.
Under the National Fire Safety Code (NFPA 2006), Article 1.5.2 states
"Portable fire
extinguishers shall be maintained in a fully charged and operable
condition and shall be kept in
their designated places at all times when they are not being used.
Under the National Fire Safety Code (NFPA 2006), Article 1.5.3 states
"Fire extinguishers shall
be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and
immediately available in the
event of a fire. Preferably, they shall be located along normal paths of
travel, including exits
from areas.
One feasible acceptable abatement method would be to comply with the
National Fire Safety
Code.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $525.00 · Current $400.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-11-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-12-07 00:00:00