OSHA Inspection: HEARTLAND MILL, INC

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Mar 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,310 · Current $1,155 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons could accidentally walk was not guarded by either a standard railing with standard toe-board on all exposed sides, or a floor hole cover of standard strength and construction.  While the cover was not in place, the floor hole was not constantly attended by someone or protected by a removable standard railing:  a) Employees engaged in mill activities in the basement area were exposed to tripping hazards in that the floor holes were not guarded.  b) Employees engaged in mill activities in WFM upper level by the pneumatic pipe area were exposed to tripping hazards in that the floor holes were not guarded.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(9): Floor covers were not securely held in place to prevent tools or materials from falling through:  a) Employees engaged in mill activities in the basement area were exposed to struck-by hazards from the floor holes to the employees working or walking-by below.  b) Employees engaged in mill activities in WFM upper level by the pneumatic pipe area were exposed to struck-by hazards from the floor holes to the employees working or walking-by below.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:  WFM area by the Stone Mill - Employees were exposed to fall hazards of 77 inches from the working platform to the concrete floor below in that a standard guardrail or the equivalent was not provided for one of the open 4 sides.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(iii): Flight(s) of stairs with 4 or more risers, less than 44 inches wide and having both sides open were not equipped with one standard stair railing on each side:  Warehouse area - Stair leading up to upper level - Employees were exposed to fall hazards of 36 to 65 inches in that the stair was not equipped with stair railings on one of the open sides.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Feb 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(b)(1): Two exit routes. At least two exit routes was not available in the workplace to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency, except as allowed in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. The exit routes must be located as far away as practical from each other so that if one exit route is blocked by fire or smoke, employees can evacuate using the second exit route:  a) Cooler area - Employees were exposed to hazards of unsafe egress in an emergency in that exit was not available.  b) Dock area - Employees were exposed to hazards of unsafe egress in an emergency in that exit was not available.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,310 · Current $1,155 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(9): Industrial truck(s) were not fitted with overhead guard(s) as protection against falling objects:  Warehouse - Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards in that the Hawker DLA-71706 forklift was not equipped with a cage.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Fan blade guard(s) were not provided where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet from the floor or working level. Fan blade guards, where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet above the floor or working level, had openings larger than one half inch:  a) Employees engaged in mill activities in WFM area were exposed to amputation hazards in that the floor fan was not completely guarded, had broken guards, exposed openings to the blades.  b) Employees engaged in mill activities in Circle Bin area were exposed to amputation hazards in that the guard of the engine fan for the Neuero grain vac machine was taken out for cooling purpose to prevent overheat.  c) Employees engaged in mill activities in Circle Bin area were exposed to amputation hazards in that the fan blade guards had openings of 2 inches.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded rotating shaft ends projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft:  The rotating shaft ends on the following equipment were not covered to protect employees from caught-in hazards caused by rotating parts:  a)  Warehouse area in the basement - Allis Roller Mills, 3 instances. b)  Warehouse area by the Cyclone floor pneumatic, 8 instances on the left side, 6 instances on the right side. c)  Warehouse area by the upper Mezzanine pneumatic pipe, air lock unit, 4 instances on the right side, 4 instances on the left side, and 1 instance by itself next to these units. d) Big tank building by the storage tank air lock unit, the Farina #4, 5, and 6, 3 instances. e)  Oat Plant area by the Cliffer Cleaner Grain side - 1 instance. f)  Oat Plant area by the High Speed Strinner machine Production side - 1 instance. g)  Oat Plant area by the Crippen machine #120 Production side - 1 instance. h)  Oat Plant area by the Leg for Metal Detector Bagging Leg Production side - 1 instance.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,310 · Current $1,155 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven 7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  a) Employees engaged in milling activities in the oat mill were exposed to caught-between hazards in that the chain and sprocket under the flour tank, approximately 80 inches above the floor, was not guarded.  b) Employees engaged in milling activities in the oat plant pre-clean area were exposed to caught-between hazards in that the chain and sprocket for the cleaner unit, approximately 10 inches above the ground, was not guarded.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,700 · Current $3,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(2): Runways four feet or more above floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent) and toeboards:  Employees engaged in milling activities at the following locations in the oat mill were exposed to fall hazards in that elevated platforms and catwalks were not equipped with standard guard rails:  a)  The platform at the flour sifter b)  The bagger catwalk  c)  The flaker  Heartland Mill, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.23(c)(2)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 700419, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on (2/04/2013), with respect to a workplace located at 124 N. 3rd St., Marienthal, KS.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Mar 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,160 · Current $3,080 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":  Cooler area - Employees were exposed to hazards of unsafe egress in an emergency in that exit swing wooden door was not marked with exit sign.  Heartland Mill, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 700419, citation number 1, item number 4, and was affirmed as a final order on (2/04/2013), with respect to a workplace located at 124 N. 3rd St., Merienthal, KS.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Mar 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $10,780 · Current $5,390 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  Employees engaged in milling activities were exposed to caught-between hazards in that pulleys were not fully guarded at the following locations:   a)  The oat mill area by the bagger catwalk, approximately 50 inches above the walking surface. b)  The oat mill area by the high speed screener, approximately 16 inches above the walking surface. c)  The basement of the warehouse, 3 Allis Roller Mills, opening gaps of 2 3/4 inches; 4 inches; and 5x2 inches. d)  The White Flour Mill, industrial floor fan had guard openings, exposed pulleys. e)  The Mechanical Shop, compressor had no guards. f)  The Circle Bins, the guard for the green Neuero grain vac engine has been taken off to prevent overheat, exposed pulleys.    Heartland Mill, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 700419, citation number 1, item number 7a, and was affirmed as a final order on (2/04/2013), with respect to a workplace located at 124 N. 3rd St., Merienthal, KS.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Sep 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  Employees engaged in milling activities were exposed to caught-between hazards in that drive belts were not fully guarded at the following locations:   a)  The oat mill area by the bagger catwalk, approximately 50 inches above the walking surface. b)  The oat mill area by the high speed screener, approximately 16 inches above the walking surface. c)  The basement of the warehouse, 3 Allis Roller Mills, opening gaps of 2 3/4 inches; 4 inches; and 5x2 inches. d)  The White Flour Mill, industrial floor fan had guard openings, exposed belts. e)  The Mechanical Shop, compressor had no guards. f)  The Circle Bins, the guard for the green Neuero grain vac engine has been taken off to prevent overheat, exposed belts.  Heartland Mill, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 700419, citation number 1, item number 7b, and was affirmed as a final order on (2/04/2013), with respect to a workplace located at 124 N. 3rd St., Merienthal, KS.

Issued

Nov 25, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,620 · Current $2,310 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  Employees engaged in milling activities at the auger located near the rail tracks at the oat mill were exposed to electrical shock hazards in that the flexible cord supplying power to the auger was not equipped with strain relief.   Heartland Mill, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 700419, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on (2/4/2013), with respect to a workplace located at124 N. 3rd St., Merienthal, KS.