OSHA Inspection: THE CARROLLTON FARMERS' EXCHANGE COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(i):  General safety precautions associated with the facility, including recognition and preventive measures for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources such as smoking:    a.  At the facility, the employer did not provide annual combustible grain dust training including employee recognition and preventative measures for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(ii):  Specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to, cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, hot work procedures, preventive maintenance procedures and lock-out/tag-out procedures:    a.  At the facility, the employer did not provide annual training on cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, and preventative maintenance procedures to employees involved in such activities.    b.  On the site where employees performed lock-out/tag-out of equipment, the employer did not develop procedures for tagging and locking out equipment thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1):  The employer shall develop and implement a written housekeeping program that establishes the frequency and method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces:    a.  At the workplace, the employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces in areas including, but not limited to, the following:  basement, mill area, and bagging area.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200M102M104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(2)(ii):  The employer shall immediately remove any fugitive grain dust accumulations whenever they exceed 1/8 inch (.32 cm) at priority housekeeping areas, pursuant to the housekeeping program, or shall demonstrate and assure, through the development and implementation of the housekeeping program, that equivalent protection is provided:    a.  In the bagging area, fugitive grain dust accumulations of 3/16 to 2 1/4 inches which had covered surfaces such as the supports and boot on the bucket elevator, duplex receptacle/switch, and swith for the cracker elevator leg were not immediately removed.    b.  In the bagging area on the cracker platform, fugitive grain dust accumulations of 3/16 to 3/4 inch which had covered surfaces such as the inlet to the cracker, East side of the cracker, belt and pulley cover for the cracker, and supports for the hopper were not immediately removed.    c.  In the bagging area on the cracker platform, fugitive grain dust accumulations of 1 to 16 inches which had covered floor surfaces under and near the cracker were not immediately removed.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(l)(1):  All fabric dust filter collectors which are a part of a pneumatic dust collection system shall be equipped with a monitoring device that will indicate a pressure drop across the surface of the filter:    a.  In the mill area, the DCE Unimaster dust collector (model: 102-K3) was not equipped with a monitoring device that would indicate a pressure drop across the surface of the filter.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(l)(2):  Filter collectors installed after March 30, 1988 shall be located outside; or located in an area inside the facility protected by an explosion suppression system; or located in an area inside the facility that is separated from other areas of the facility by construction having at least a one hour fire-resistance rating, and which is adjacent to an exterior wall and vented to the outside.  The vent and ductwork shall be designed to resist rupture due to deflagration:    a.  In the mill area, the DCE Unimaster dust collector (model: 102-K3) which was installed in 1994 and located inside the facility was not protected by an explosion suppression system or was not separated from other areas of the facility by construction having at least a one hour fire-resistance rating and vented to the outside.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

Jun 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200M102M104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c):  Electrical installations.  Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations shall be intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:    a.  In the mill corn bagging area near the DCE Unimaster dust collector (model: 102-K3) and the 3 ton Blue Streak Twin Spiral vertical mixer, electrical equipment including, but not limited to, the duplex receptacle, snap switch for outside light, and snap switch for inside lights in a Class II, Division 2 location were not intrinsically safe, approved for a Class II, Division 2 location, or safe for a Class II, Division 2 location.    d.  In the bagging area near the Big Chief cracker and Creamer inside elevator legs, electrical equipment including, but not limited to, the Doron digital scale (model: 8000) plugged into a duplex receptacle, snap switch, and 220 VAC receptacle in a Class II, Division 1 location were not intrinsically safe, approved for a Class II, Division 2 location, or safe for a Class II, Division 2 location.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2)(i):  Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices:    a.  At the entrance from the bag warehouse to the bagging area, the employer did not have a combustible dust hazard sign where explosive grain dust atmospheres may occur due to the handling and storing of grain.    b.  At the outside entrance to the mill warehouse, the employer did not have a combustible dust hazard sign where explosive grain dust atmospheres may occur due to the handling and storing of grain.    c.  At the outside entrance to the bagging area, the employer did not have a combustible dust hazard sign where explosive grain dust atmospheres may occur due to the handling and storing of grain.    d.  At the outside entrance to the main control room or entrance from the control room to the mill area, the employer did not have a combustible dust hazard sign where explosive grain dust atmospheres may occur due to the handling and storing of grain.    e.  At the outside entrance to the basement, the employer did not have a combustible dust hazard sign where explosive grain dust atmospheres may occur due to the handling and storing of grain.

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

May 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3):  A certification record shall be maintained of each inspection, performed in accordance with this paragraph (m), containing the date of the inspection, the name of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the equipment specified in paragraph (m)(1)(i) of this section that was inspected:    a.  At the facility, the employer did not maintain certification records for inspections performed on equipment including, but not limited to, the following:  bucket elevators, DCE Unimaster dust collector, crimper, Big Chief cracker, Prater Industries hammer mill (S/N: 28548), and Prater Pulverizing crusher (S/N: 3239).

Issued

Apr 13, 2012

Abate by

Jun 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.  Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability,carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals.  Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets:    a.  At the facility, the employer did not provide hazard communication training for newer employees who were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, the following:  fertilizer, grease, motor oil, hydraulic oil, antifreeze, oxygen, and acetylene.