OSHA Inspection: HOLMES AG SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2):     Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.    a.     On the first floor of the mill where employees gained access to the basement, the employer did not install a gate or so offset the opening that employees could not walk directly into the opening thereby exposing employees to a 9 foot fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Oct 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(9):     Every floor hole into which persons cannot accidentally walk (on account of fixed machinery, equipment, or walls) shall be protected by a cover that leaves no openings more than 1 inch wide. The cover shall be securely held in place to prevent tools or materials from falling through.    a.     In the mill beside the corn pit, there was a floor hole which measured 9 inches by 11 inches which was not provided with a secure cover thereby exposing employees to a trip fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):     Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.      a.     At the mill when employees climbed up on top of the trucks to perform bulk fills, the employer did not provide or enforce the use of personal fall protection thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $544 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii):     The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:    a.     On the site where employees were either authorized or affected by lock out/tag-out procedures, the employer did not provide procedures to inform employees of the types of energy, types of machines, and the safe operating procedures for for performing lock-out/tag-out thereby exposing employees to a struck-by/contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii):     Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck (except for training purposes), the employer shall ensure that each operator has successfully completed the training required by this paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5).    29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii):     Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.    a.     On the site where employees opperated a Daewoo Forklift, the employer did not evaluate the employees safe operation of the powered industrial truck before allowing the employees to operate the equipment thereby exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii):     Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.    a.     On the site where employees opperated a Daewoo Forklift, the employer did not evaluate the employees safe operation of the powered industrial truck before allowing the employees to operate the equipment thereby exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Oct 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):     Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.      a.     In the mill directly behind the mixer, there was a open uncovered floor hole where the auger runs the product to the leg to be set to a specific bin thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.     In the mill directly in front of the mixer, the auger used to take grain up the leg was not properly guarded in that there were 3 1/2 inches between the grate bars thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i):     Where both runs of horizontal belts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor level, the guard shall extend to at least fifteen (15) inches above the belt or to a standard height, except that where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor, the belt shall be fully enclosed in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.      a.     On the northside of the Henke Roller Mill, their were two 1/2" belts and pulleys which were not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.    On the south side of the Henke Roller mill, their were 3-1" belts and pulleys which were not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    c.     In the corn pit where corn cobs are stored and pulled out as needed, their was a belt and pulley which were not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    d.     At the front mill dock, the air compressor belt and pulley were not guarded against accidental contact thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.     e.     Beside the big corn bin, the grain auger used to off load corn from the bin into the trucks had the back side of the guard to the belt and pulley was missing thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1):     Gears. Gears shall be guarded in accordance with one of the following methods:    29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(i):     By a complete enclosure.    a.    On the north side of the Henke Rolling Mill where grain was processed for mixing of feed, there was a unguarded chain and sprocket thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.     In the corn pit where whole husks of corn are pulled out of a pit for processing, there was a unguarded chain and sprocket thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):     Compressed air used for cleaning. Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.      a.     In the mill where compressed air was used to blow off equipment and clean equipment, the compressed air was operated at 90 psi thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

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,     On the site where employees entered grain bins to perform cleaning, check equipment, hot work procedures and confined space procedures, the employer did not provide procedures or training to employees performing these tasks thereby exposing employees to a fire/explosion hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(k):     Grate openings. Receiving-pit feed openings, such as truck or railcar receiving-pits, shall be covered by grates. The width of openings in the grates shall be a maximum of 2 1/2 inches (6.35 cm).    a.     At the front side of the mill deck at the dump pit, the grates were 9 inches apart thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Nov 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $544 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(1):     Motors and appliances. Each disconnecting means required by this subpart for motors and appliances shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident.    a.     In the mill where grain processes were performed such as, but not limited to, grinding product for mixing into feed, the electrical disconnects were not marked to indicate the equipment the operated thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 12, 2012

Abate by

Oct 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $544 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii):     Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.    a.     In warehouse one where chemicals and seed were stored for retail sales, there was a ubused opening in the side of the fertilizer pump disconnect thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.