OSHA Inspection: WESTERN FEED MILLS, INC.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

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

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 were exposed to fall hazards when accessing platforms with unguarded ladderway floor openings in the following locations:   a) Top platform for Molasses tank, 13 ft. 9 inches from platform to lower level.  b) Outside of new storage building, 12 feet from platform to the ground

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that every hatchway and chute floor opening was guarded by either a hinged floor opening cover of standard strength and construction equipped with standard railings or permanently attached thereto so as to leave only one exposed side, or by 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:  Employees accessing the mineral tank platform were exposed to fall hazards of up to 14 feet from the ladderway floor opening on the platform to the lower level. The opening was not a hatch for the platform floor opening.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(9): Each floor hole, into which persons could not accidentally walk, was not protected by a cover that leaves no openings more than 1 inch wide.  Employees walking/working on the truck load out platform were exposed to tripping and laceration hazards in that there was a 5 inch by 7 inch hole in the expanded metal platform.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 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:  Employees performing work in the following locations were exposed to fall hazards:   a) Truck load out platform; a 22 inch section did not have a midrail installed; 14 feet 2 inches to the lower level. b) Pelletizer platform; a 33 inch section did not have a midrail installed; 12 feet to the lower level. c) Pelletizer platform; 144 inch section of the loading access area did not have a midrail;   12 feet to the lower level.   29 CFR 1903.19(c)(2):  Abatement of the above violations was verified at time of inspection, no certification is required.     d) The lower platform leading to the molasses tank did not have a guardrail installed;  57 inches from the platform to the floor.  29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1):  Requires certification that the abatement of the above violation is complete.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): Standard railings were not provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms. Handrails were not provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending:  Employees using the stairs in the following locations were exposed to fall hazards:  a) The stairs to access the basement did not have at least one handrail installed.  b) The stair rails for the stairs to the upper level of the truck load out platform did not have midrails.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 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):  Pulleys with parts located less than 7 feet from from the floor or work platform were not guarded as specified by the standard in the following locations:  a) Molasses platform; unguarded pulley located 5 feet, 6 inches from the work platform. b) Molasses platform; unguarded pulley located 5 feet, 9 inches from the work platform.  29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1):  Requires certification that the abatement of the above violation is complete.  c) Basement; inadequately guarded pulleys located at the surge motor, 4 feet, 4 inches and 5 feet, 7 inches from the floor.    29 CFR 1903.19(c)(2):  Abatement of the above violation was verified at time of inspection, no certification is required.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)(a):   Employees working in the following locations were exposed to in-running nip point hazards of vertical  belts in that the belts were not enclosed as specified by the standard:  a) Molasses tank platform, belts located approximately 5 feet, 6 inches from the floor of the platform, not guarded. b) Molasses tank platform, belts located approximately 5 feet, 9 inches from the floor of the platform, not guarded.  29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1):  Requires certification that the abatement of the above violation is complete.  c) Basement, at surge motor, belt located approximately 4 feet 3 inches from the floor, installed guard left back side open.  29 CFR 1903.19(c)(2):  Abatement of the above violation was verified at time of inspection, no certification is required.