OSHA Inspection: DAKOTA QUALITY GRAIN COOPERATIVE

Issued

Jul 9, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(iii):  Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), when testing for atmospheric hazards, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors:    (a)  On or about March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees entering boot pits for cleaning and other maintenance activities and only having a Sperian Biosystems Toxipro single gas O2 sensor to test the atmosphere within the space at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 9, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 oxygen content, the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:    (a)  On or about March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees entering grain storage bins for cleaning and other maintenance activities and only having a Sperian Biosystems Toxipro single gas O2 sensor to test the atmosphere within the space at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 9, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 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 March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees entering grain storage bins for cleaning and other maintenance activities at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 9, 2012

Abate by

Jul 12, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,430 Reduced

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)  On or about March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees working in the main terminal elevator with grain dust at approximately 1/4-inch deep in the basement with a pile of grain dust approximately 5 feet in diameter that was approximately 1-foot deep and the boot pit having a pile of grain dust approximately 2-3 feet deep and approximately 5-6 feet wide at the base at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.    (b)  On or about March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees working in the west elevator with grain dust approximately 1/4-inch deep in the boot pit at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.    (c)  On or about March 15, 2012, and at times prior to that date, for the employees working in the east elevator with grain dust approximately 1/2- to 3/4-inch deep in the boot pit at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 9, 2012

Abate by

Oct 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace, including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    (a)  For the employees wearing 3M 6000 series half-faced respirator while cleaning fugitive grain dust from the boot pits and upper floors of the grain elevators on location at Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative, located at 816 Railroad Avenue, Ross, North Dakota.