OSHA Inspection: UNITED AG SERVICES, LLC

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 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:    (a) Throughout the facility; Employees were exposed to fall hazards such as but not limited to:    (1) Concrete grain bins; Employees were exposed to 19 foot fall hazards while walking on an 8  1/2 inch poured concrete wall and the bottom cord of the roof trusses to determine grain quantities in the back bins, and      (2) Steel grain hoppers; Employees were exposed to 10 foot fall hazards while standing on the steel structural beams to open the hopper and pound on the side.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)(ii): The distance between rungs exceeded 12 inches and were not uniform throughout the ladder:  (a) Concrete grain bin number 1; Employees were exposed to fall hazards up to 19 feet from a wooden ladder that was constructed with the rungs approximately 16 inches on center.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(c)(4): The employer did not install fixed ladders with at least 7 inches of clearence from the centerline of the rung to the nearest permanent object in the back of the ladder:   (a) Concrete grain bin number 1; Employees were exposed to fall hazards up to 19 feet from a wooden ladder that was constructed with the rungs 6 inches from the back of the concrete wall.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

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, blocked off, or otherwise prevented form operating by other equally effective methods:    (a) Grain bin at east end of facility; The employer did not require all mechanical hazards inside the grain bin to be isolated such as a sweep auger prior to employees entering the grain bin to perform work.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  (a) Grain bin at east end of facility; The employer did not require an observer equipped to provide assistance, stationed outside the grain bins and able to maintain communication when grain bin entries were performed.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Nov 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(2)(ii): The employer did not immediately remove any fugitive grain dust accumulations whenever the exceeded 1/8 inch (.32cm) at priority housekeeping areas, pursuant to the housekeeping program for grain elevators:    (a) Feed Mill basement; The employer did not immediately remove fugitive grain dust accumulations that exceeded 1/8 inch on the floor and grain processing equipment horizontal surfaces in areas such as, but not limited to, the hammer mill, bucket elevator and old scale area.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,470 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:    (a) Bag feed mixer area; Employees were exposed to open electrical hazards, such as, but not limited to:    (1) Bag feed mixer; The flexible conduit was pulled from the connector exposing the conductors, and     (2) Bag feed elevator; The sheath of the yellow electrical cord powering the elevator was damaged in two areas exposing the conductors.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  (a) Bulk Truck loading area; Two yellow and orange extension cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring as they were draped and wrapped around the building structure to power a camera.

Issued

Oct 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $490 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.4(a): The employer did not record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case that resulted in the general recording criteria on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.     (a) Administrate office; The employer did not record workplace injuries or illnesses on the OSHA Forms 300 for the calendar years 2010 to 2013.