OSHA Inspection: TIFFIN FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC.

Issued

Mar 26, 2013

Abate by

Jul 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

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 combustible corn (grain) dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards while working at or near a cyclone type dust collector that was not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of an internal combustible dust deflagration:     a) Tiffin Farmers Cooperative, Inc. - Tiffin, Ohio: On or about October 11, 2012, the indoor Prater cyclone dust collector associated with an upstream hammer mill lacked a means of explosion protection.  The cyclone dust collector was noted to leak, allowing for dust emissions into the surrounding work environment.  The cyclone dust collector discharged to several mixers below through a transfer system which did not include a means of deflagration propagation isolation protection to separate the upstream and downstream vessels.

Issued

Mar 26, 2013

Abate by

May 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces:     a) Tiffin Farmers Cooperative, Inc. - Tiffin, Ohio: On or about October 11, 2012, the employer failed to keep priority housekeeping areas in the basement of the feed mill free of accumulation of dust, including the base of the indoor bucket elevator which fed the crimper and the base of the hammer mill. Laboratory analysis of the dust indicated that it was explosive, exposing employees to hazards from fire and explosion.    b) Tiffin Farmers Cooperative, Inc. - Tiffin, Ohio: On or about October 11, 2012, the employer failed to keep the floor, guardrails, and surrounding equipment upstairs in the feed mill free of accumulation of dust. Laboratory analysis of the dust indicated that it as explosive, exposing employees to hazards from fire and explosion.

Issued

Mar 26, 2013

Abate by

Apr 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:    a) Tiffin Farmers Cooperative - Tiffin, Ohio: On or about October 11, 2012, the employer failed to ensure that electrical equipment used in the basement of the feed mill was approved for Class II Division 2 dust environments. Employees were exposed to hazards from fire and explosion while operating the hammer mill and using a fan that was not approved.