OSHA Inspection: CENDAK FARMERS UNION COOP

Issued

2011-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2380.00 · Current $750.00 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 fire and explosion hazards due to inadvertent release of pressurized gasoline:\\r\\n\\r\\n(a)  CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure that a union coupler connection associated with 2\\\" piping used in conjuction with the movement and storage of a Class I flammable liquid was maintained liquid-tight. The connection was leaking super unleaded gasoline during off-loading procedures involving over-the-road bulk fuel transports delivering to bulk plant #2. The employer did not have sufficient procedures and controls implemented to effectively identify and ensure employees were protected from fire and explosion hazards.\\r\\n\\r\\nAbatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to develop and implement specific procedural elements to ensure piping be inspected and maintained liquid-tight. A piping system that has leaks that consitute a hazard shall be emptied of liquid or repaired in a manner acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. The piping system requirements shall be in accordance with NFPA Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, 2003 Edition, Chapter 5, Piping Systems, paragraph 5.2.2 Tightness of Piping.

Issued

2011-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1785.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder.     (a)  CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from fall hazards while attempting to fill a fuel truck at bulk fuel plant #2. An employee was accessing the platform which measured approximately 6 feet, 9 inches, to the ground, to fill the fuel truck on a daily basis. The platform did not have proper standard railing installed on all the open sides of the platform. This condition exposed the employee to a fall hazard of approximately 6 feet, 9 inches.     (b) CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from fall hazards while attempting to fill fuel trucks at bulk fuel plant #3. An employee was accessing the platform which measured approximately 5 feet, 9 inches, to the ground, to fill the fuel truck. The platform did not have proper standard railing installed on all the open sides of the platform. This condition exposed the employee to a fall hazard of approximately 5 feet, 9 inches.     Abatement Note: The following is provided to assist in the abatement of this hazard:  A standard railing consists of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and shall have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. The top rail shall be smooth-surfaced throughout the length of the railing. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.

Issued

2011-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1785.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(iii): Flight(s) of stairs with 4 or more risers, less than 44 inches wide having both sides open, were not equipped with one standard stair railing on each side:    (a)  CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure the stairs leading up to the #2 bulk fuel storage were equipped with standard stair railings on both open sides. The stairs had more than 4 risers, which consisted of one top rail and no midrail on the west side of the stairs. The other side of the stairs was missing the standard railing. A bulk fuel truck driver utilizes the stairs on a daily basis to gain access to the platform to fill the fuel truck for transport. This condition exposed employees utilizing the stairs to a fall hazard of approximately 6 feet, 9 inches.    (b) CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure the stairs leading up to the #3 bulk fuel storage were equipped with standard stair railings on both open sides. The stairs had more than 4 risers leading up to the platform that was approximately 6 feet in height with no standard railings. A bulk fuel truck driver utilizes the stairs on a daily basis to gain access to the platform to fill the fuel truck for transport. This condition exposed employees utilizing the stairs to a fall hazard of approximately 5 feet, 9 inches.     Abatement Note:  A standard railing for stairs shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and shall have a vertical height of not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to surface of the tread in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the tread. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.

Issued

2011-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2380.00 · Current $750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    (a)  CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees who accessed the top of bulk fuel trucks to open the hatch and fill the fuel truck tank were protected by an appropriate fall arrest system. An employee has to open the hatch and stand on top of the truck during filling operations on a daily basis. This condition exposes an employee to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet.

Issued

2011-09-09 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-09-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    (a)  CenDak Farmers Union Coop at 203 Second Street, Maddock, ND, on and before August 3rd, 2011, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Approximately one employee's job duties involve hazardous operations which include exposure to splash hazards to the eyes and skin from handling of unleaded gasoline, super unleaded gasoline, diesel 1 and 2.  The same job duty also exposes the employee to a fall hazard when the employee accesses the top of a bulk fuel truck to fill the 2800-gallon tank with gasoline or diesel. Hazardous operations include, but are not limited to the following:    1.  Exposure to splash hazards involving the handling of unleaded gasoline and super unleaded which contain toluene, xylene, benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyllbenzene, ethyl benzene, n-hexane naphthalene.    2.  Exposure to fall hazards while accessing bulk fuel trucks during filling operations.