OSHA Inspection: STRAUSSVILLE GRAIN, INC.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having developed a written program addressing all of the requirements of this subpart.   This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without having developed a written program or implementing any of the additional requirements of this subpart.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including but not limited to, the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(v):                                             The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having developed procedures and work practices outlining the methods to conducting safe entry.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without having developed any procedures or work practices that outline the step by step process for conducting safe entry.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4): The employer did not provide the equipment specified in paragraphs (d)(4)(i)-(d)(4)(ix) of this section at no cost to employees, did not maintain that equipment properly, and/or did not ensure that employees use that equipment properly:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having rescue equipment during the entry.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without having the entrant wearing a harness and recovery line or any type of retrieval mechanism available for rescue.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin:       The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having tested the environment first.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without having conducted a test of the atmospheric conditions with a testing device such as a 4 gas meter or equivalent.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry was authorized for the duration of entry operations:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having at attendant posted at the entry to the space so as to monitor the entrant throughout the entry.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without having an attendant posted at the entrance to the boot pit so they could monitor the entrant and take action in the event of an emergency.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:    The employer failed to protect employees from potential atmospheric, electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting entry into permit required confined spaces without having employees fill out a permit necessary to ensure all hazards are identified and risks mitigated.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit without filling out a permit where they have identified the hazards and demonstrated how they have mitigated the risks as well as having had a designated person approve the entry.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:     The employer failed to train employees on the recognition and safe work practices associated with conducting entry into permit required confined spaces.   This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has untrained employees entering the boot pit to perform maintenance on the leg and clean out the boot pit.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $480.00 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):     The employer failed to protect employees from potential amputation hazards associated with employees operating and working around unguarded belts and pulleys.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees using an auger to move grain out of DB1 and the auger belt and pulley are unguarded exposing employees to potential nip point hazards.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):     The employer failed to protect employees from potential amputation hazards associated with employees operating and working around unguarded belts and pulleys.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees using an auger to move grain out of DB1 and the auger belt and pulley assembly are unguarded exposing employees to potential nip point hazards.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees entered the bins, silos, or tanks:    The employer failed to protect employees from potential confined space hazards associated with employees entering grain bins without the benefit of having filled out, documented and addressed potential issues found on a written entry permit.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering grain bins to vacuum and clean out the residual grain in preparation of putting in new grain without the benefit of an entry permit.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 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 the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential respiratory hazards associated with entering a grain bins where potential toxic gases may be present without having tested the air quality to determine the need for respiration.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering grain storage bins for the purpose of cleaning out residual grain in preparation of new grain without having the employees either ventilate or test the air quality of the bin prior to entry.  Instance includes but is not limited to: employees entering a grain bin done on March 5, 2013 where the employees were using a vacuum to clean out the bin in preparation for new grain.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3): In the grain handling facility an observer, equipped to provide assistance, was not stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential confined space hazards associated with entering a grain bins without posting or maintain an observer outside at the entrance point prepared to assist in the event of an emergency.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees entering grain storage bins for the purpose of cleaning out residual grain in preparation of new grain without posting an attendant at the entrance with the training and means available to provide assistance to the entrant shall the need arise.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $840.00 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:    The employer failed to protect employees from potential electrical and amputation hazards associated with employees conducting maintenance and cleaning equipment that requires the de-energization and securing stored energy without having developed and implemented lockout and/or tag out procedures.   This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees conducting maintenance on the leg and augers throughout the facility where they are turning off the circuit breakers without the application of a lock or a tag to protect against the accidental restart of the equipment while they are performing the work.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential respiratory hazards associated with employees wearing respirators without having been briefed on the potential medical risks associated with heart and breathing issues.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees wearing 3M half mask with a 60921 NIOSH approved canister as a means of protecting themselves from the dust exposure found when handling grain without having been briefed by the employer of potential heart and breathing concerns that increase as the result of wearing the respirator.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:    The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory program necessary to protect employees from potential respiratory hazards associated with employees wearing respirators without having been briefed on the potential medical risks associated with heart and breathing issues.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees wearing 3M half mask with a 60921 NIOSH approved canister as a means of protecting themselves from the dust exposure found when handling grain without having a written respiratory program in place to provide guidance on the companys procedures in addressing volunteer respirator use throughout the company.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(d): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency action plan meeting the requirements contained in 1910.38(a):    The employer failed to protect employees from potential fire and explosion hazards associated with employees working in a grain handling facility without the benefits of having an established emergency action plan developed and implemented.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees handling grain throughout the facility, in an environment where there are potential grain dust build up and combustible dust concerns without having developed or implemented a written emergency action plan.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1): The employer did not provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job assignments would expose them to new hazards in the grain handling facilities:     The employer failed to provide training to employees on the hazards associated with working in a grain handling facility as outlined in this subpart.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees handling grain throughout the facility, without having conducted at least annual refresher training the hazards located throughout the facility as well as the skills of recognizing hazards prior to exposure.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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 exposed surfaces in the grain handling facility:    The employer failed to develop a written housekeeping program necessary in the grain handling industry to outline the companys recognition of the hazards associated with handling grain as well as the companys approach to preventing accidents associated with those hazards.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has full time employees working in the facility whereby they handle and move grain throughout the facility without the aid of a written housekeeping program to designate the methods of cleaning, equipment used in cleaning and the time table of when the facility requires cleaning thus leaving the cleaning of the facility to the employees best discretion and the potential for excessive grain dust build up thus creating an explosive environment.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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):    The employer failed to maintain a written certification records of maintenance performed throughout the grain facility as required per this subpart.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has full time employees performing maintenance on the equipment throughout the facility without any records maintained as to when the equipment was serviced last and what type of service was done.

Issued

2013-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $400.00 · Current $0.00 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:     The employer failed to protect employees from potential chemical hazards associated with employees using hazardous chemicals at part of their duties without the employer developing and implementing a written HAZCOM program.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 70944 650 Ave, Falls City, NE 68355, where the employer has employees using various petroleum products as they perform maintenance on the legs, conveyors, augers and other equipment throughout the facility without having developed a written HAZCOM program that addresses how the company manages hazardous chemicals in the work place to include but not limited to:   i.    The training the employees require prior to using each type of chemical.   ii.   The requirements to ensure all containers with hazardous chemicals are labeled properly.   iii.   That all employees have unaided access to Safety Data Sheets for every chemical.