OSHA Inspection: AGLAND CO-OP, INC.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,913 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2): Every ladderway floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening.  a.     On the 500 grain bin where employees access a ladder to the loading platform to load trucks, the platform did not have a swinging gate to protect employees from a 20 foot fall hazard.  b.     On the 167 grain bin where employees access a ladder to the loading platform to load trucks, the platform did not have a swinging gate to protect employees from a 13'8" foot fall hazard.  c.     On the receiving lane platform where employees work on the platform to receive grain, the platform was missing a swing gate thereby exposing employees to a 10'2" fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): "Railings and handrails." Standard railings shall be provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending. Stair railings and handrails shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of 1910.23.  a.     In the area of the dryer, there was a stairway platform which was missing a guardrail system system with more than four risers thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.  b.     At the straw trailer where employees entered the back of the semi trailer to retrieve bales of straw for retail sale, there was only one strirrail thereby exposing employees to a trip/fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(g): "Stairway platforms." Stairway platforms shall be no less than the width of a stairway and a minimum of 30 inches in length measured in the direction of travel.    a.     On the Dryer Drag platform where employees entered the dryer to perform maintenance or clean the equipment, the door opened to a platform which measured 24 1/8 inches thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6): Periodic inspection.  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  a.     On the site the employer did not perform a periodic inspection of the energy control program to identify potential problems with the way employees were performing the procedures and any other problems with the program thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3): Lockout or tagout devices removal. Each lockout or tagout device shall be removed from each energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device. Exception to paragraph (e)(3): When the authorized employee who applied the lockout or tagout device is not available to remove it, that device may be removed under the direction of the employer, provided that specific procedures and training for such removal have been developed, documented and incorporated into the employer's energy control program. The employer shall demonstrate that the specific procedure provides equivalent safety to the removal of the device by the authorized employee who applied it. The specific procedure shall include at least the following elements:  29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3)(i): Verification by the employer that the authorized employee who applied the device is not at the facility:  a.     In the employers lock-out/tag-out program the document does not address that the empoyee who performed the lock-out procedure was verified that they were not present in the facility before proceeding with another authorized employee removing the lock.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(2)(i): Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged in activities covered by the scope and application of this standard, the on-site employer and the outside employer shall inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures.  a.     The employer did not address the procedures for outside contractors coming into the facility by explaining and sharing the requirements of the lock-out program to ensure the outside contractors understand the requirements for performing lock-out procedures on site.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(3): The employer shall provide employees who have been designated to use fire fighting equipment as part of an emergency action plan with training in the use of the appropriate equipment.    a.     On the site where employees would be able to extinguish a  incipient stage fire, the employer did not provide hands on training with the fire extinguishers thereby exposing employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,530 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one-half (1/2) inch.  a.     On the side of the Wet Bin, there was a 9 1/2 x 2 foot opening in the fan guard thereby exposing employees to a caught-in/struck-by hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,913 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2): General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.  a.     On the side of Leg 130, there was a belt and pulley which the guard around the belt and pulley was not secured thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Mar 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,530 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.     At the side of Bin 167, the belt and pulley on the motor which powers the underground auger was unguarded to the back of the enclosure thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  b.     On the side of the Recieving Leg, the belt and pulley to the Baldour Motor was not guarded to the rear of the enclosure thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(x): Flexible cords and cables shall be protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch points.  a.     At the building beside the grain unloading area, the employer laid extension cords on the parking lot where semi-trucks and cars were driving over the extension cords which could cause accidental damage thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.  b.     In the electrical control box located beside the receiving leg, the employer ran a temporary cord pinched between the panel cover to supply power to a heat light thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Feb 26, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,148 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used:    29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;    a.    On the side of the building where trucks were parked, the employer used extension cords as permanant wiring to supply power to the heating unit for the fuel, the extension cord was not rated for the use thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.