OSHA Inspection: NORTHERN FEED AND BEAN OF LUCERNE LLC

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,530 · Current $1,071 Reduced

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 to maintain communication between the employee enterting the bin and the observer:                                                                (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646:  The employer did not ensure the observer and the employee entering the bin maintained communications in that the observer was on the ground at the closed door and the employee in the bin entered through a hatch on top of the bin.  This condition exposed the employees to potential fall and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:                                                                        (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646:  The employer did not provide equipment for rescue, the employees are required to enter the bins to retrieve the cord for the sweep auger and move beans to allow for movement of auger in all the bins and to open the door in bins 1,2 and 3.  This condition exposed the employees to potential fall and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(5): The employee acting as an observer for bin, tank, or silo entry operations in the grain handling facility was not trained in rescue procedures, including notification methods for obtaining additional assistance:                                                                                                           (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646:  The employer did not ensure the employees acting as observers when employees entered bins was not trained in rescue procedures.  This condition exposed the employees to potential fall and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  Open sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:    (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646: The storage area above the offices was not fully guarded by a standard guardrail.  This condition exposed the employee to a fall hazard of approximately 10 feet.    Abatement Note:  The following is provided to assist in the abatement of this hazard:    (1)A standard railing shall consist 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.    (2)A standard toeboard shall be 4 inches nominal in vertical height from its top edge to the   level of the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. It shall be securely fastened in place and   with not more than 1/4-inch clearance above floor level. It may be made of any substantial material either solid or with openings not over 1 inch in greatest dimension.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646:  The employer did not ensure the stairs leading up to the de-stoner was equipped with standard stair railings on both open sides. The stairs had more than 4 risers and a standard railing on one side. This condition potentially exposed the employees to a fall hazard when using the stairs.    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

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(d)(2):  Proper safety precautions as set forth in this paragraph were not observed in connection with the use of ladders:    (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC, at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646: The storage area above the offices was accessed by use of an unfolded wood step ladder hooked onto the walll.  This condition exposed the employees to a fall hazard of approximately 10 feet.    Abatement Note:  The requirements for fixed industrial ladders can be found in 29 CFR 1910.27.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

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 1/8 inch (.32cm) at priority housekeeping areas, pursuant to the housekeeping program for grain elevators:    (a)Northern Feed and Bean of Lucerne LLC at 33278 Highway 85, Lucerne, CO 80646:  The employer did not ensure any fugitive dust accumulations were removed in that dust had accumulated in areas of the basement.  The dust appeared to be at least 1/4 inch thick and was on several areas.    Abatement Note:  The use of compressed air to blow dust from ledges, walls, and other areas shall only be permitted when all machinery that presents an ignition source in the area is shut-down, and all other know potential ignition sources in the area are removed or controlled.  Vaccuuming, with a sealed motor and intrinsically safe vaccuum, is the preferred method of dust removal.