OSHA Inspection: FRONTIER COOPERATIVE COMPANY

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Abate by

Jul 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $3,465 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not ensure that testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5) was maintained properly:    At Frontier Cooperative Company in Belgrade, NE : The employer failed to properly maintain testing and/or monitoring equipment necessary to ensure safe entry conditions before and during permit required confined space entries. The company owns a 4 Gas monitor which is and has in need of repair for approximately 3-6 months at the time of the inspection.

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Abate by

Jul 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 a hazardous atmosphere was present:  At Frontier Cooperative Company in Belgrade, NE : The employer permitted employees to enter the boot pits classified as permit required confined spaces to perform work on more than one occasion without evaluating the space for the presence of a hazardous atmosphere. The company owns a 4 Gas Honeywell monitor that is and has been in need of repair for approximately 3-6 months at the time of the inspection.

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Abate by

Jul 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(j)(2): The employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor verified, by checking that the appropriate entries had been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit had been conducted and that all procedures and equipment were in place before endorsing the permit to allow entry:    Frontier Cooperative Company 47271 N 216th Avenue, Belgrade, NE: The employer failed to ensure entry supervisors verified that all atmospheric testing had been completed and that all procedures and equipment was in place prior to signing an entry permit. The air monitoring equipment owned by the company is and has been broken for at least three months. Issued and cancelled permits were provided to the CSHO showing entries in to PRCS' all endorsed by entry supervisors including the location manager.

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,950 · Current $2,475 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(i): Oxygen cylinders were stored near oil and grease:    In the Shop of Frontier Cooperative Company located at 47271 N. 216th Avenue: The employer failed to ensure that oxygen cylinders were not stored near highly combustible materials such as oil and grease.

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Abate by

Jul 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,930 · Current $0 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:    At Frontier Cooperative Company in Belgrade, NE : On 2-10-2014 the employer issued an entry permit for employees to enter the East Bean Bin to clean the beans off of the sides of the bin. The atmosphere was not tested prior to entry because the 4-Gas Air Monitor owned by the company had been broken for several months prior to the entry. The permit was signed by an entry supervisor authorizing entry and was provided to the compliance officer during the inspection.

Issued

Jul 3, 2014

Abate by

Jul 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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(m)(1):  At Frontier Cooperative Company 47271 N 216th Avenue: The employer failed to ensure that a preventative maintenance inspection record was maintained for all inspections and repairs conducted of all mechanical and safety control equipment associated with grain dryers, grain stream processing equipment, dust collection equipment including filer collectors and bucket elevators.