OSHA Inspection: LENTZ FARMS, INC

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

May 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 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 from operating by other equally effective means or methods:    (a) Grain bins throughout the facility; Employees were allowed to enter the Chicago bin, the South bin and dryer grain bins while discharge and/or sweep augers were operating.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:     (a) Mechanical/electrical room;  A galvanized steel junction box cover was installed on the face of an electrical cabinet.  The cover pressed on a starter/reset button and kept it pressed in, which defeated the safety stop on the overhead GSI bin drag.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There were damaged parts that adversely affected safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that were broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:    (a) Mechanical/electrical room;  An electrical cabinet had two 1/4 inch holes in it from screwing a cover plate into the face of the cabinet, compromising the integrity and effectiveness of the cabinet wall.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

May 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $3,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iv): The employer did not prohibit "walking down grain" and similar practices where the employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain:    (a) Grain bins throughout the facility; Employees walked down corn or pushed/poked at ledges/shelves/towers/spires with a PVC pipe in order to make it flow into the floor holes and discharge auger system in the Chicago and the South grain bins.    Lentz Farms Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 107430, citation number 1, item number 3a, and was affirmed as a final order on January 18, 2012, with respect to a workplace at 165 13 1/2 Street, Dallas, WI 54733.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

May 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $3,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): When entering the grain handling facility bins, silos, or tanks  at a level at or above the level of the stored grain, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, 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) Grain bins throughout the facility; Employees were not wearing a body harness or using a boatswain chair with lifeline to prevent the employees from sinking in the grain when entering the Chicago and South grain bins.    Lentz Farms Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 107430, citation number 1, item number 3b, and was affirmed as a final order on January 18, 2012, with respect to a workplace at 165 13 1/2 Street, Dallas, WI 54733.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

May 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $3,400 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:    (a) Grain bins throughout the facility; The employer did not provide an observer equipped to provide assistance and able to maintain communication, that was stationed outside the Chicago and South grain bins when grain bin entries were performed.      Lentz Farms Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 107430, citation number 1, item number 3c, and was affirmed as a final order on January 18, 2012, with respect to a workplace at 165 13 1/2 Street, Dallas, WI 54733.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Abate by

May 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $3,400 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:    (a) Grain bins throughout the facility; The employer did not provide equipment, such as, but not limited to; a rescue tripod or block and tackle system suited for rescue operations when grain bin entries were performed.      Lentz Farms Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 107430, citation number 1, item number 3d, and was affirmed as a final order on January 18, 2012, with respect to a workplace at 165 13 1/2 Street, Dallas, WI 54733.

Issued

Mar 19, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:    (a) Mechanical/electrical room; The breaker box in the northeast corner had an open breaker slot with exposed electrical that was not protected by a blank.    Lentz Farms Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 107430, citation number 1, item number 4a, and was affirmed as a final order on January 18, 2012, with respect to a workplace at 165 13 1/2 Street, Dallas, WI 54733.