OSHA Inspection: COX & LUTER, INC.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 14, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):     Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:Note:  Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.    On or about October 23, 2012, and at times prior thereto, on the Reject Drag catwalk, the employer did not install guard railing on all open sides. The right side of the catwalk was not installed with a guardrail, which exposed employees to falls greater than 40 feet to ground below.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 21, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l):     Operators were not trained in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks:    On or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior thereto, at the facility, the employer had not trained employees required to use forklifts on the safe operation requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.178(l).    Instance a:  On or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior thereto, at the facility, the employer did not ensure that employees required to operate powered industrial trucks (PIT) were provided certified training in the safe operation and maintenance of the vehicles. This created hazard(s) associated with being struck-by, crushed-by and tip over.     Instance b:  On or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior thereto, at Cleaner #2, an employee was operating a powered industrial truck without utilizing the restraint system. This created hazard(s) associated with being struck-by or ejected while operating a powered industrial truck (PIT).    Instance c:  On or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior thereto, at Cleaner #2, an employee was standing on the forks of a powered industrial truck in order to elevate to a greater height to tie an approximately 2,500 pound bushel of rice. This created a hazard of being pinned between the bushel and powered industrial truck.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 14, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1):     Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    On or about October 23, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at the grain elevator legs, the employer did not protect employees from traverse motion by means of guarding. Employees required to work on or adjacent to twelve (12) grain elevator heads were exposed to unguarded motor/pulley systems. This created hazards of being struck or caught in a pinch or shear point by the traverse motion of the moving parts.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(i):     Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work in the grain handling facility were not trained in the general safety precautions, including recognition and preventive measures for the hazards related to dust accumulation:    On or about February 6, 2013, at Cleaner #2, the employer did not annually train employees about general safety precautions associated with the hazards of grain dust accumulations and common ignition sources such as smoking.  An employee was observed smoking on the upper mezzanine, near conveyors and rice being discharged from the chute. This created a condition for employees to be exposed to burn or explosion hazards associated with airborne or accumulative grain dust on surfaces.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii):     Prior to entry, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presented a danger to employees inside grain storage structures in the grain handling facility were not disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.    At the facility, inside grain storage bins, the employer allows employees to enter bin and sweep and shovel residual grain while unguarded sweep auger is in operation (energized). This condition exposed employees to the hazard of tripping or slipping and accidentally falling into the machinery.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(4):     The employer did not implement procedures in the grain handling facility for the use of tags and locks which would prevent the inadvertent application of energy or motion to equipment being repaired, serviced, or adjusted, which could result in employee injury:     On or about October 23, 2012, at the facility, the employer did not have an implemented procedure for the use of tags and locks for including but not limited to dust collection systems, dryers, elevator equipment and components, lubrication of bearings inside elevators. This created a condition which exposed employees to hazards of equipment or machinery start-up by unauthorized entry of personnel.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.    On or about October 23, 2012, at the facility, the employer did not have any form of documentation to substantiate annual lock-out/tag-out procedural training of employees who perform service and maintenance on equipment or machines.  This created a condition which exposed employees to hazards of equipment or machinery start-up by unauthorized entry of personnel.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii):     Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:    On or about October 23, 2012, at Cleaner #2, where the employer did not ensure electrical panels missing blanks for circuit breakers that are missing were closed or covered. This created a condition for employees to be exposed to electrical shock or burn hazards.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d):     Panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type were accessible to unqualified persons:    On or about October 23, 2012, at Cleaner #2, the employer did not ensure that Panelboard was secured with a dead front and access to the area was limited to qualified persons. This created a condition for employees to be exposed to hazards of electrical shock or burns.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):     The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    At the jobsite, the employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program for hazardous chemicals/products including but not limited to Isopropanol, Fludioxonil, Glycerin, exposing employees to respiratory system  and dermal hazards.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i):     Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    On or about October 23, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at the facility, the employer did not ensure that employees who were issued particulate respirators e.g. dust masks for exposure to grain dust while performing housekeeping tasks such as but not limited, sweeping storage bins and Cleaner #1 and Cleaner #2, and operating the rice and soybean cleaner equipment were provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134. This condition exposed employees to rice and soybean dust which can lead to irritation of the nasal mucous membrane.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1):     The employer shall develop and implement a written housekeeping program that establishes the frequency and method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces.    On or about October 23, 2012, at Cleaner #1 and Cleaner #2 buildings, the employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program which establishes the frequency of cleaning and the methods to reduce accumulation of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, all spaces (including hidden areas), and other exposed surfaces. This created a condition for employees to be exposed to burn or explosion hazards associated with accumulative grain dust on surfaces.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3):     A certification record maintained of each inspection by the employer in the grain facility was not in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.272(1):    On or about October 23, 2012, at the facility, the employer did not have available for inspection a written Preventive maintenance certification record, containing the date of the inspection, the name of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier; for each inspection and lubrication performed on machinery and equipment.