OSHA Inspection: MID-STATE EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC.

Issued

Mar 7, 2012

Abate by

Mar 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):     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 employee(s) are exposed to crushing hazards while working under unsupported and unsecured equipment:    (a)  An employee performing maintenance working under a John Deere rotary harvesting unit, Model #688, attached to a John Deere forage harvester, Model #6750, was exposed to crushing hazards in that the locking pin, used to keep the cutter head from lowering in the event of a hydraulic failure, was not maintained to ensure the pin could properly secure the cutter head.      (b)  An employee performing maintenance working under a John Deere rotary harvesting unit, Model #688, attached to a John Deere forage harvester, Model #6750, was exposed to crushing hazards in that the rotary harvesting unit was not braced or supported to prevent the unit from falling.  This exposed the employee to crushing hazards.      Among others, a feasible means of abatement includes, but is not limited to:     Follow the manufacturer recommendations which address proper inspection and maintenance of the locking pin and other safety devices associated with equipment and installation of bracing or blocking materials to be used while employees are exposed to unexpected movement of equipment to ensure employees working under equipment are protected from crushing hazards.

Issued

Mar 7, 2012

Abate by

Mar 28, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):     Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the followingelements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down whichcould endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated fromthat energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockoutdevice is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does notcreate hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation orreenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.    (a) Procedures were not established for the control of potentially hazardous energy for employees who work on or around machinery that requires energy control.

Issued

Mar 7, 2012

Abate by

Mar 28, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):     The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees.      (a) Training related to energy control was not communicated to employees. The employees regulary work on machinery that requires energy control.