OSHA Inspection: GERBER & SON'S INC.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,190 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 the second level front end of the blender, there was an opening beside the equipment which measured 10" x 53" thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.    b.     In the basment beside the front end pit auger, there was a drop off from the platform which measured 2 1/2 feet to 3 feet thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(2):     Every runway shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides 4 feet or more above floor or ground level. Wherever tools, machine parts, or materials are likely to be used on the runway, a toeboard shall also be provided on each exposed side.  Runways used exclusively for special purposes (such as oiling, shafting, or filling tank cars) may have the railing on one side omitted where operating conditions necessitate such omission, providing the falling hazard is minimized by using a runway of not less than 18 inches wide. Where persons entering upon runways become thereby exposed to machinery, electrical equipment, or other danger not a falling hazard, additional guarding than is here specified may be essential for protection.    a.     In the basement, the walking/working platform in the new mill had a 9 foot 4 inch area which was missing fall protection such as, but not limited to, guardrails thereby exposing employees to a 6 foot fall hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(3):     "Ladder extensions." The side rails of through or side-step ladder extensions shall extend 3 1/2 feet above parapets and landings. For through ladder extensions, the rungs shall be omitted from the extension and shall have not less than 18 nor more than 24 inches clearance between rails. For side-step or offset fixed ladder sections, at landings, the side rails and rungs shall be carried to the next regular rung beyond or above the 3 1/2 feet minimum.    a.     In the south section of the new mill where maintenance employees climbed a fixed metal ladder to access the platform where the air compressor was located, the side rails did not extend 3 1/2 feet above the landing thereby exposing employees to a 7 foot fall hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $2,380

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(f):     "Maintenance." All ladders shall be maintained in a safe condition. All ladders shall be inspected regularly, with the intervals between inspections being determined by use and exposure.    a.     In the south section of the new mill, the fixed metal ladder was damaged by forklifts hitting the ladder near the bottom of the ladder and regular inspections were not performed to identify damage to the ladder.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i):     All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.    a.     On the first  level next to the Pellet Mill, there was a shaft which was not guarded with a complete enclosure and there was a 2 1/2 inch opening to the shaft thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.      In the basement beside the Baldour motor for the grinder, the left side of the shaft was not guarded and had a 5 inch opening to the shaft thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

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.    a.    In the pellet mill, there was an improperly guarded belt and pulley on the Ross Camp packer thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.     In the basement, there was an unguarded belt and pulley on the Sheller to the drive motor thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    c.      In the basement, there was an unguarded belt and pulleyon the grinder auger gear box thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(i)(2):     Couplings. Shaft couplings shall be so constructed as to present no hazard from bolts, nuts, setscrews, or revolving surfaces. Bolts, nuts, and setscrews will, however, be permitted where they are covered with safety sleeves or where they are used parallel with the shafting and are countersunk or else do not extend beyond the flange of the coupling.    a.     In the basement, the rotating coupler on the flex auger shaft was not properly guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.    b.      In the basement, the rotating coupler on the grinder auger gear box was not properly guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Mar 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $893 Reduced

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.     In the south section of the mill at the top of the fixed metal ladde, there was a cover missing from the conduit where employees grab the overhead door rail to pull themserves up thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.