OSHA Inspection: ASHVILLE GRAIN, LLC

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $544 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8):     Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk shall be guarded by either:    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.     On top of Bin 14, there was a unguarded floor hole on the dryer leg platform in which employees could accidently step into thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.    b.     On the top floor of the main house, there was a 7 inch by 9 inch floor hole which was not covered or secured thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(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.all hazard.    a.     In the basement, the stairway from the top of the stairs to the ground level was not equipped with a mid rail thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):     Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides,    a.   On the top of Bin 5 just outside the doorway from the bin floor, there was a 52 inch opening where a guardrail was missing where employees walked out the door to check machines and grain levels in the bin thereby exposing employees to a 100 foot fall hazard.    b.   On the west side of Bin 2 floor where employees access to measure grain bins or perform preventitive maintinance, there was a 49 inch opening in both sides of the guardrail to the equipment thereby exposing employees to a 100 foot fall hazard.    c.    In ther basement between bin 9 and 11, there was a fall hazard of 7 1/2 feet where the guardrail was taken down and not replaced thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Dec 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):     Energy control program. The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.    a.     On the site where grain was bought and sold, the employer did not develop a lock-out/tag-out program to direct employees in the procedures needed to safety deenergize equipment when performing maintenance thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 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).    a.    On the grain site where a Catepillar powered industrial truck was operated, the employer did not provide powered industrial truck training in the safe operation of the equipment thereby exposing employees tp a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Oct 25, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $544 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(2)(i):     Overhead horizontal belts, with lower parts seven (7) feet or less from the floor or platform, shall be guarded on sides and bottom in accordance with paragraph (o)(3) of this section.    a.     On Bin 14, at the top of the dryer leg platform where employees perform maintenance, the belt ans pulley were not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.      On Bin 14,  the lower platform where motors were located had a belt and pulley which was not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 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.     At the grain elevators where grain dust accumulates, the employer uses compressed air to clean off employees and equipment which measured 90 psi thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Dec 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1):     The following actions shall be taken before employees enter bins, silos, or tanks:    29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i):     The employer shall issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks unless the employer or the employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation. The permit shall certify that the precautions contained in this paragraph (1910.272(g)) have been implemented prior to employees entering bins, silos or tanks. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the entry operations.    a.     On the site where employees entered bins to clean the excess grain or corn from the bin, the employer did not test the asphospere and issue a confined space permit before allowing employees into the bin thereby exposing employees to an inhalation hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2):     Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.    a.    At the outside dump station, there were three energized electrical outlets which were covered with duct tape and not suitable for covering energized electrical thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Oct 25, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $408 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5):     Grounding path. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures shall be permanent, continuous, and effective.      a.     In the inside dump, the large industrial fan used to provide cooling for the employees, did not have a ground prong thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $680 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 the main electrical room, the top of the 240/480 volt transformer was missing thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.    b.     In the main electrical room, there was an unused opening in the top of the energized electrical panel circuit Box 1, thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.    c.      In the main electrical room, there was an unused opening in the front of the energized electrical panel Box 1, thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Oct 15, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):     All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings shall be provided with covers identified for the purpose. If metal covers are used, they shall be grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box shall have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy. Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants pass shall be provided with bushings designed for the purpose or shall have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords may bear.      a.    At the outside dump site where corn and other grain is dumped and sent to to different legs, there were three junction boxes which did not have covers thereby exposing employees to a contact cover.     b.    At the bottom of Bin 14, there were 2 covers missing off the junction boxes which were energized therby exposing employees to a contact hazard.    c.    On Bin 5, the rerlease for the electric motor had the junction box cover missing from the energized electrical thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.    d.    In the inside dump, there were 4 covers missing from the energized electrical junction boxes thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.