OSHA Inspection: RAKHRA MUSHROOM FARM CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $6,930

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 including burns, shocks, and electrocution:    a) On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees who worked in wet and damp locations were expposed to electrical hazards in that installations in wet and damp locations had missing or defective covers and disconnected conduit:    1)  In the tunnels, the 110 outlet across from tunnel 2 was missing a plug cover and the conduit was broken.  2)  In the tunnels, the outlets and conduits across from tunnel 5 were damaged where they were pulled off of the wall.  3)  At the spawn line, a plug had a missing cover plate on hopper platform facing south.  4)  The west end of the spawn line had an electrical box with open holes.  5)  Light switches, 110 outlets and 250 outlets outside the doors to grow rooms 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20, had broken parts including covers.   6)  The conduits to the 110 plug outside grow room 10, and to the 250 plug outside grow room 16 were disconnected.  7)  The conduit for the power source was separated from the electrical panel on the Big Mama conveyor.  8)  In the boiler room, the conduit between the high voltage box and the 110 converter was disconnected.    b) On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical hazards from broken plugs in the tunnels on the Hubble plug in the outlet across from tunnel 5, and the mobile standing fan used in the area.     c) On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical hazards from defective insulation on wires on the Spawn Line:    1)  motor at the west end,  2)  line to energize hydraulic unit that presses seed into compost,  3)  the e-stop on the south side, and  4)  insulation broken on several wires between the control station and the spawn line.    d)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical hazards from electrical cabinets that were left open in the tunnels building:    1)  Inside the east door to the building on the north wall,  2)  In the electrical room, the 240/120 box labeled "KT" at the south end on the west wall,  3)  In the electrical room, the 420/227 box at the south end on the west wall, and   4)  In the electrical room, the 420/227 box at the south end on the east wall.    e)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the following electrical panels were blocked:    1)  South of the door to grow room 2.  2)  Both electrical panels on the east wall in the boiler room.

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $6,930

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 employees were exposed to crushing injuries:    a)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees operated equipment where the structurally stability of the roof and shelter cover of the Post Crop Room, Tray Cook Out Room and the Wharf had not be verified after there was damage to the concrete and support structures, and temporary bracing was installed.      b)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, on the south side of the spawn line employees work on and under the second level platform to fill the hopper with mushroom seeds; the supports of the platform are tipping and the joints are rusting.      Among other methods, on feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to have a structural engineer evaluate the damaged areas and implement the resulting recommendations.

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $6,930

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 employees were exposed to fall hazards:    a)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fall hazards in the following locations:    1)     West of the London Bridge conveyor belt, a drain in the ground with a pump in it exposing employees to falls of 4 feet or greater.  2)     The south end of the London Bridge conveyor is missing a span of the walkway exposing employees to falls of approximately 20 feet.    3)     M9 conveyor:          (i)   the walkway adjacent to the conveyor has inadequate guardrails and midrails.          (ii)   the south end is missing guardrails exposing employees to falls of approximately 20 feet.          (iii)  the 6th step from the ground on the fixed ladder access is bent causing users to stumble and exposing them to falls of approximately 5 feet.  4)     Spawn Line          (i)   platform edges are not secured after mushroom seed is placed on the platforms with a fork truck exposing employees to falls of approximately 8 and 11 feet.          (ii)   the platform to access the drum has no midrail          (iii)   the steps used to access the kacking dispenser has no guard rails, has 4 uneven and broken steps, and broken bolts.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to inspect the farm for fall hazards and correct deficiencies as they are identified.  Install guardrails around holes such as the drain in the ground on the west side of the farm, and elevated work surfaces such as at the M-9 and at access points and on the spawn line.  Adequate guardrails are 42 inches high, have midrails at 21 inches high, and can resist a force of 200 pounds.  Replace the missing spans of working and walking surfaces such as on the London Bridge walkway. Ensure steps on fixed stairs and ladders are flat and they have equal spacing between them, like on the ladder to the M-9 conveyor and the stair access to the kacking dispenser.  Install hand rails on stairs.  Institute and enforce work rules to replace safety chains at access points after a load is hoisted onto elevated platforms.     b)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees used 15-foot and taller mobile ladder stands as a regular part of work processes in the tunnels area that were rusted and broken.      Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to follow the ANSI-ASC A14.7-2006, American National Standard for Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms guidelines (found on American Ladder Institute's ladder safety web page for Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms, www.laddersafety.org/LadderTypes/MobileLadderStands.aspx) which states:     "Upon receipt following shipping and prior to each period of use, each Mobile Ladder Stand or Ladder Stand Platform unit must be visually inspected for damage, such as unusual wear, deterioration or corrosion.... It is the owner's responsibility to comply with the manufacturer's maintenance instructions to maintain the quality and serviceability of the unit.      "Units that are damaged or weakened from any cause are not to be used until repairs are completed.  Units that are damaged subsequent to their receipt and/or are worn beyond repair must be removed from service and destroyed.      "General maintenance of Mobile Ladder Stand or Platform includes cleaning, lubrication, painting and the replacement of on-product labels and markings as well as wheels, casters and rubber pads.    "Climbing a damaged Ladder Stand or Ladder Stand Platform is not permitted."

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Dec 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,208 · Current $4,208

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 employees were exposed to fire and asphyxiation hazards:    a)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior employees were exposed to fire and asphyxiation hazards because no exits in the grow hall were marked.      Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to follow the NFPA 1: Fire Code, 2012 edition, Chapter 14, part 14.1.5.1 which states, "Access to exits shall be marked by approved, readily visible signs in all cases where the exit or way to reach the exit is not readily apparent to the occupants."

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Jan 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $6,930

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(a)(7): The employer did not protect employees from coming into contact with hazards created by moving machinery parts:    a)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to the following caught-in and amputation hazards on the pulling winch in the tunnels area:    1)  The auger motor belt on the west side that is about 3 feet above the ground was not guarded.  2)  A rotating shaft associated with the auger on the west side of the machine was not guarded.  3)  A drive chain on the east side of the machine about 2 feet above the ground was not guarded.  4)  A rotating shaft on the east side of the machine about 3 feet above the ground was not guarded.   5)  A rotating shaft on the east side more than 7 feet off the ground adjacent to where employees stand on an elevated platform to observe operations, was not guarded.    b)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, as controlling and exposing employer, Rakhra Mushroom farms did not ensure that its own employees and employees of Absmeier Landscaping, were protected from caught-in and amputation hazards from the unguarded drive chains below the inlet of the Big Mama conveyor adjacent to the e-stop buttons.    c)  On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to the following caught-in and amputation hazards on the Spawn Line:    1)  The pulley systems to raise and lower the growing trays at the east and west ends of the machine were not guarded.  2)  Chains that drive the movement of the grow trays adjacent to the hopper platform were not guarded.  3)  A belt and pulley next to the access platform at the center of the machine was not guarded.  4)  A belt and pulley next to the platform at the indexer upstream from the drum, was not guarded.

Issued

Dec 7, 2012

Abate by

Jan 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(5)(i)(B):  Material handling equipment located in a bulk storage structure, did not have operational electrical or mechanical means to disconnect the power:     a) On or about August 21, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards at the south-west corner of the M-9 conveyor because the e-stop pull-cord was broken.