OSHA Inspection: THE GOLDEN BELT COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Feb 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2):  Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening:    Employees performing maintenance and housekeeping duties were exposed to fall hazards in that the ladder openings were not protected for the following locations:    a)  Motor platform on the west side of the bucket elevator legs head pulley did not have the chain replaced exposing employees to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet to the stairs below.    b)  Access platform on the east side of the bucket elevator leg head pulley did not have any fall protection exposing employees to a fall hazard of approximately 17 feet to the concrete floor below.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Feb 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(3)(ii):  A removable railing with toeboard on not more than two sides of the opening and fixed standard railings with toeboards on all other exposed sides. The removable railings shall be kept in place when the opening is not in use.  Where operating conditions necessitate the feeding of material into any hatchway or chute opening, protection shall be provided to prevent a person from falling through the opening:    Employees operating the tripper mechanism were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 100 feet in that fall protection was not used when the grating is removed from the floor opening.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Feb 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.111(d)(7):  Damage from vehicles. Precaution were not taken to prevent damage from vehicles:    Employees working near the anhydrous ammonia tanks were exposed to hazards associated with unintended releases due to impacts from vehicles.  The tanks were not protected from vehicles.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Feb 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1):  Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes:    Employees working in the feed mill were exposed to amputation hazards in that the drive pulleys for the following locations were not guarded:    a)  Feed Mill roller on the main floor.  The uppermost drive pulley was not fully guarded.  b)  Drive motor for the mixer in the Feed Mill basement.  The drive pulley at the bottom at the stairs was not guarded.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Feb 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    Employees working in the feed mill were exposed to amputation hazards in that the drive belts for the following locations were not guarded:    a)  Feed Mill roller on the main floor.  The uppermost drive belt was not fully guarded.  b)  Drive motor for the mixer in the Feed Mill basement.  The drive belts at the bottom at the stairs were not guarded.

Issued

Jan 24, 2013

Abate by

Mar 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1):  The employer did not develop and 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 exposures:    Employees working in the feed mill were exposed to fire an explosion hazards in that the housekeeping program did not adequately address the frequency needed to prevent dust and product spill accumulations.