OSHA Inspection: KALMBACH FEEDS, INC.

Issued

Feb 7, 2012

Abate by

Aug 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,912 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to combustible dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards at or near dust collectors and associated upstream equipment which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of a deflagration or other uncontrolled fire event.    a.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, Upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from dust deflagration, explosion, or other  fire hazards.  The employees were exposed to the hazards from a dust collector located inside of the building and connected to the central vacuum system adjacent to the #2 bagging line, which lacked means of (1) explosion protection, (2) deflagration isolation to upstream process equipment, and (3) fire protection.    b.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, Upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from dust deflagration, explosion, or other  fire hazards.  The employees were exposed to the hazards from a dust collector located inside of the building and connected to the #2 bagging line, which lacked means of (1) explosion protection, (2) deflagration isolation to upstream process equipment, and (3) fire protection.    c.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, Upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from fire hazards.  The employees were exposed to the fire hazard from combustible schedule 80, 8 inch diameter PVC ductwork leading from the micro bins to an inside 30 inch cyclone.    Among other methods, a feasible method to correct these hazards would be to comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 61 "Standard for the prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities, 2008 Edition" - Sections 10.4 and 6.3.  and/or to comply with FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 7-73 "Dust Collectors and Collection Systems, May 2008" Section 2.1, 2.1.2.2, 2.1.4.2 and 7-76 "Prevention and Mitigation of Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire, May 2006" - Section 2.4.

Issued

Feb 7, 2012

Abate by

Feb 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,913 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1):  All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms were not kept clean, orderly and in a sanitary condition.    a.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure steam pipes and other elevated surfaces located above the pellet mills were kept clean.  Dust  accumulations on pipes and other horizontal surfaces were creating a fire and/or explosion hazard if the dust were to be disturbed.

Issued

Feb 7, 2012

Abate by

Feb 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom was not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.    a.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, Upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure the floor of the #1 mixer basement was kept clean and orderly.  There was a large amount of feed material piled around the base of the bucket elevator, pellet cooler, and material augers due to a material spill from the bucket elevator.

Issued

Feb 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3):  Safety instruction signs. Safety instruction signs were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures.    a.  Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., 7148 State Hwy 199, upper Sandusky, OH:  On or about September 14, 2011, the employer did not ensure warning signs were posted throughout the facility warning employees of the hazards associated with combustible dust.