OSHA Inspection: MIDWEST BULK TRANSLOAD, INC.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(g): Guarding. Covers and/or guard-rails were not provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc:             a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required work around an unprotected open pit on the east side of the railroad tracks in the unloading area. The unguarded pit openings measured approximately 3.0 feet by 6 feet and 6 feet in depth.  The employees were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with falls.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Oct 24, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:         a) On or about July 3, 2014, an employee required unload rail cars was exposed to continuous noise at 173.7 % of the permissible daily dose level, when measured with 85 dBA threshold, or an average sound level of the approximately 93.3 dBA during the 528 minute sampling period.           b) On or about July 3, 2014, an employee required load containers was exposed to continuous noise at 119.64% of the permissible daily dose level, when measured with 85 dBA threshold, or an average sound level of the approximately 90.7 dBA during the 522 minute sampling period.        The employer had not instituted a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and when the hazards were likely to be present, the employer did not select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that would protect the employees from the hazards identified:            a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required to access and work on top of rail cars in the unloading area. The employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 14 to16 feet.  Protective equipment, such as a body harness and lanyard, was not used by employees to protect them against injury in the event of a fall.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4):  When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace employees were required to enter confined spaces, including but not limited to, a pit in the unloading area. The employer did not develop and implement a written confined space entry program.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5):  The employer did not test conditions in permit spaces to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry operations were conducted:   a) During the period of approximately February 1, 2014 through March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace employees were required to enter confined spaces including but not limited to a pit in the unloading area. The employer did not test conditions or determine the level of toxic chemicals in the space before entry operations were conducted.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(C)(4):                 a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required to operate and perform maintenance on equipment such as conveyor belts. The employer did not establish a written lockout/tagout program. The employees were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with the unexpected energizing or startup of equipment.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1):  Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety related work practices required by 29 CFR 1910.331 through 29 CFR 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required to operate and perform maintenance on equipment such conveyor belts. The employer did not train employees to be familiar with and use electrical safety related work practices. The employees working with the equipment were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with electrical contact.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(i):   The employer did not maintain a copy of the written procedures outlined in 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2) and did not make it available for inspection by employees:       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required to operate and perform maintenance on equipment such conveyor belts. The employer did not maintain a copy of the written procedures outlined in 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2) and did not make it available for inspection by employees. The employees working with the equipment were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with electrical contact.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck, the employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by this paragraph:              a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees were required to operate a lift truck. The employer did not ensure the employees had been trained and evaluated as required. Employees were thereby exposed to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2):  Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Particulates not otherwise regulate (Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of 15 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3) as an 8-hour Time Weighted Average concentration:            a) On or about April 10, 2014, an employee required to load containers was exposed to airborne Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles dust at an 8-hour time-weighted average level of 16.45 mg/m3, approximately 1.1 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/m3 (8-hr TWA), during a 282 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for 198 minutes not sampled.               b) On or about July 2, 2014, an employee required to load containers was exposed to airborne Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles dust at an 8-hour time-weighted average level of 29.0 mg/m3, approximately 1.9 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/m3 (8-hr TWA), during a 517 minute sampling period.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): Where respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee, or whenever required, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures as required by 1910.134 (c)(1)(i-ix):       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees unloading rail cars and loading containers were exposed to Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles dust in excess of the permissible exposure limit (see Citation 1, Item 7a) and were required to wear negative pressure air purifying respirators.  The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures when respirators were necessary in the workplace to protect the health of the employee or required by the employer.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:                       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees unloading rail cars and loading containers were exposed to Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles dust in excess of the permissible exposure limit (see Citation 1, Item 7a).  The employer did not provide medical evaluations to determine the employees' ability to use a respirator.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Nov 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph.       a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees unloading rail cars and loading containers were exposed to Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles dust in excess of the permissible exposure limit (see Citation 1, Item 7a). The employer did not ensure that each employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed an appropriate qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:             a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees regularly worked with Delst, Inc., DMX-7 Mold Inhibitor, diesel fuel exhaust gases and other chemicals. The employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program. Employees were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with chemical contact.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h):  Employees were not provided information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) and (2) on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced into their work area:              a) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace, employees regularly worked with Delst, Inc., DMX-7 Mold Inhibitor, diesel fuel exhaust gases and other chemicals. The employer did not provide employees information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) and (2) on hazardous chemicals in their work area.

Issued

Aug 28, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) On or about March 26, 2014, at the above located workplace the employer did not document workplace injuries on the OSHA 300 logs for 2014.