OSHA Inspection: 3 M PLANTING COMPANY

Issued

Feb 15, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energing, 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:      On or about December 17, 2012, at 2534 East Highway 120, Luxora, Arkansas, where employees performed tasks such as entering grain bins to unstop doors (gates) with an auger located underneath them, the employer had not developed and implemented an energy control program to ensure that the auger was isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of being caught in an auger.

Issued

Feb 15, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:      On or about December 17, 2012, an employee entered a grain bin containing soybeans with the auger operating.  This condition exposed the employee to the hazard of being engulfed by flowing soybeans or being caught in the auger.

Issued

Feb 15, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iii): The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank in the grain handling facility was not tested for oxygen content prior to employee entry:    On or about December 17, 2012, at 2534 East Highway 120, Luxora, Arkansas, the atmosphere inside the big grain bin containing soybeans was not tested for oxygen content prior to an employee entering the bin.  This condition exposed the employee to the hazard of entering an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

Issued

Feb 15, 2013

Abate by

Feb 21, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): When entering the grain handling facility bins, silos, or tanks from the top, employees did not wear a body harness with lifeline, or use a boatswain's chair that met the requirements of Subpart D, 29 CFR 1910.28(j)(a):    On or about December 17, 2012, at 2534 East Highway 120, Luxora, Arkansas, an employee entered the big grain bin from the top above the level of soybeans.  The employees was not wearing a full body harness attached to a lifeline and was not using a boatswains chair.  This condition exposed the employee to the hazard of engulfment by soybeans.

Issued

Feb 15, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:    On or about December 17, 2012, at 2534 East Highway 120, Luxora, Arkansas, the employer did not provide rescue equipment for an employee who entered the big grain bin from the top above the level of soybeans.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of being engulfed in soybeans without equipment available to assist in rescue.