OSHA Inspection: LABOLT FARMERS GRAIN COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,620 · Current $3,234 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1):  The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit-required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:    (a)  In June of 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees who entered boot pits were protected from confined space entry hazards.  The employer failed to ensure that employees entering boot pits for cleaning and other maintenance activities received adequate training and were found to be deficient in areas, including but not limited to, permit procedures, atmospheric testing, and entrant and attendant duties.  One instance of this violative practice occurred in June of 2011 when oxygen test records identified that the employees entered the boot pit in the east house elevator, without ensuring that proper procedures were followed to ensure safe entry conditions were established.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(2):  Employees assigned special tasks in the grain handling facility, such as bin entry and handling of flammable or toxic substances, were not provided training to perform these tasks safely:    (a)  On or about June 21, 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from bin entry hazards.  The employer failed to ensure that employees entering bins for cleanout and other maintenance activities received adequate training and were found to be deficient in areas, including but not limited to, permit procedures, atmospheric testing, lockout/tagout, and entrant and attendant duties.  One instance of this violative practice occurred on June 21, 2011, when two employees entered a bin without ensuring that proper procedures were followed to ensure safe entry conditions were established.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,620 · Current $3,234 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iii):  The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank in the grain handling facility was not tested for the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:    (a)  On or about June 21, 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from bin entry hazards.  No atmospheric testing was done before employees entered grain bins.  One instance of this violative practice occurred on June 21, 2011, when two employees entered a bin and no atmospheric testing had been performed before the employees entered the bin.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $30,800 · Current $21,560 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4):  When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    (a)  In June of 2011, and at times prior, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees who entered boot pits were protected from confined space entry hazards.  The employer failed to develop and implement a Confined Space Entry Program for employees entering boot pits for cleaning and other maintenance activities, and were found to be deficient in areas, including but not limited to, permit procedures, atmospheric testing, and entrant and attendant duties.  One instance of this violative practice occurred in June of 2011 when oxygen test records identified that the employees entered the boot pit in the east house elevator, without ensuring that proper procedures were followed to ensure safe entry conditions were established.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i):  The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees entered the bins:    (a)  On or about June 21, 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from bin entry hazards.  No bin entry permit was issued before employees entered grain bins.  One instance of this violative practice occurred on June 21, 2011, when two employees entered a bin and no bin entry permit had been completed before the employees entered the bin.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Mar 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3):  In the grain handling facility an observer, equipped to provide assistance, was not stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee:    (a)  On or about June 21, 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from bin entry hazards.  No attendant was required to be positioned outside during bin entry operations.  One instance of this violative practice occurred on June 21, 2011, when two employees entered a bin and no attendant was located outside to provide assistance.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Jan 17, 2012

Penalty

Initial $30,800 · Current $21,560 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii):  Prior to entry, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presented a danger to employees inside grain storage structures in the grain handling facility were not disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:    (a)  On or about June 21, 2011, and at times prior to that date, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from equipment which presented a danger while performing bin entry operations, including but not limited to, sweep augers and upper bin feed conveyors.  One instance of this violative practice occurred on June 21, 2011, when two employees entered a bin and the bin sweep was not shut down and isolated from power before the employees entered the bin.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $9,240 · Current $6,468 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8):  Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:    (a)  For the employees entering the west grain bin to clean out soy beans and exposed to trip hazards from the six conveyor chutes approximately 16" X 16" square left uncovered at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    (b)  For the employees accessing the head house of the east elevator with an opening around the elevating legs approximately 1' X 4' at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 1A, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,600 · Current $4,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1):  Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a)  For the employees operating and working around the grain cleaners in the east elevator house with belt and pulleys having missing or damaged guards exposing employees to potential amputation hazards, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 3A, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i):  Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a)  For the employees operating and working around the grain cleaners in the east elevator house with belt and pulleys having missing or damaged guards exposing employees to potential amputation hazards, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 3B, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Feb 17, 2012

Penalty

Initial $9,240 · Current $6,468 Reduced

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:    (a)  For the employees working in the east elevator house with grain dust accumulations measured up to two inches deep on the distributor deck, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or a substantially similar standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 4B, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Dec 19, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(2)(ii):  The employer did not immediately remove any fugitive grain dust accumulations whenever they exceeded an inch (.32 cm) at priority housekeeping areas, pursuant to the housekeeping program for grain elevators:    (a)  For the employees working in the east elevator house with grain dust accumulations measured up to two inches deep on the distributor deck, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 4B, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.

Issued

Dec 14, 2011

Abate by

Dec 19, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c)(2)(i):  Equipment was not approved for the class of location and for the ignitable or combustible properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust, or fiber that would be present:    (a)  For the employees working in the east house elevator with a general service pig tail used to plug in a sump pump for the boot pits, at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.    Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 311536890, Citation 1, Item 5, and was affirmed as a final order on March 31, 2008, with respect to a workplace located at LaBolt Farmers Grain Company, Inc., located at 106 Georgia Avenue, LaBolt, South Dakota.