OSHA Inspection: WATKINS GRAIN LLC

Issued

2011-05-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-06-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3000.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):    (a)  Watkins Grain LLC at 32521 Front St., Watkins, CO 80137: The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative, including but not limited to the following:    (1)  Legs;  (2)  Blower Systems;  (3)  Motors;  (4)  Gear Systems;  (5)  Packaging Lines    Abatement Note:  As part of an energy-control program, employers must:    (1)Establish energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected reenergization.  When appropriate, the   procedure also must address stored or potentially reaccumulated energy.    (2)Train employees on the energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and    (3)Inspect these procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.    The energy-control procedures must outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance.  These procedures must provide employees at least the following information    (1)A statement on how to use the procedures;    (2)Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines;    (3)Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices and identifying who has responsibility for the lockout/tagout devices; and    (4) Specific requirements for testing machines to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy-control measures.

Issued

2011-05-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1800.00 · Current $1260.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(d): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency action plan meeting the requirements contained in 29 CFR 1910.38:    (a)Watkins Grain LLC at 32521 Front St., Watkins, CO 80137:  The employer did not have an Emergency Action Plan containing all the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38.   This condition exposed the employees to physical hazards in event of the need of emergency evacuation.    Abatement Note:  The employer has fewer than 10 employees therefore can communicate the plan orally.  The Emergency Action Plan shall include:    (1)Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments;    (2)Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;    (3)Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;    (4)Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them;    (5)The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and    (6)Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.    The employer shall:    (1)Establish an alarm system that complies with 29 CFR 1910.165;    (2)Before implementing the emergency action plan, the employer shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.    (3)The employer shall review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. The written plan shall be kept at the workplace and made available for employee review. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally to employees and the employer need not maintain a written plan.

Issued

2011-05-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks in the grain handling facility did not certify that the precautions contained in 29 CFR 1910.272(g) had been implemented prior to employees entering the bins, silos, or tanks:    (a)  Watkins Grain LLC at 32521 Front St., Watkins, CO 80137:  The employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe entry of bins, silos, or tanks at the grain handling facility.  The permit that the employer utilizes did not meet the requirement of the standard.  This condition potentially exposed the employees to atmospheric and mechanical hazards when working in bins and/or silos.    Abatement Note:  In accordance with 29 CFR 1910.272(g), the permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees enter the bins, silos, or tanks shall certify the following precautions have been taken:    (a)  All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.    (b)  The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents when the employer has reason to believe they may be present. Additionally, the atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for oxygen content unless there is continuous natural air movement or continuous forced-air ventilation before and during the period employees are inside.    (c)  Ventilation shall be provided until the unsafe condition or conditions are eliminated, and the ventilation shall be continued as long as there is a possibility of recurrence of the unsafe condition while the bin, silo, or tank is occupied by employees.    (d)  If toxicity or oxygen deficiency cannot be eliminated by ventilation, employees entering the bin, silo, or tank shall wear an appropriate respirator. Respirator use shall be in accordance with the requirements of 1910.134.    (e)  "Walking down grain" and similar practices where an employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain, are prohibited.    (f)  Whenever an employee enters a grain storage structure from a level at or above the level of the stored grain or grain products, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer shall equip the employee with a body harness with lifeline, or a boatswain's chair that meets the requirements of subpart D of this part.    (g)  An observer, equipped to provide assistance, shall be stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee. Communications (visual, voice, or signal line) shall be maintained between the observer and employee entering the bin, silo, or tank.    (h)  The employer shall provide equipment for rescue operations which is specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered.    (i)  The employee acting as observer shall be trained in rescue procedures, including notification methods for obtaining additional assistance.    (j)  Employees shall not enter bins, silos, or tanks underneath a bridging condition, or where a buildup of grain products on the sides could fall and bury them.

Issued

2011-05-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces in the grain handling facility:    (a) Watkins Grain LLC at 32521 E. Front St., Watkins, CO. 80137:  The employer provides equipment and requires housekeeping however does not have a written housekeeping program.  The facility is cleaned daily with a more thorough cleaning weekly however, there remains buildup of dust from day-to-day operations.