OSHA Inspection: AG-LAND FS, INC

Issued

Dec 29, 2014

Abate by

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSHA ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to being struck by vehicular traffic when working at or near the grain receiving pit.      On or about October 7, 2014, employees were exposed to vehicle traffic when loading and unloading grain at the receiving pit.  Grain trucks were not prevented from backing into the receiving pit while employees were working in the area.        Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard:       1. Implement and enforce a work rule that requires the employees to wear high visibility garments and having a spotter present when trucks back up. Do not load or unload until it is established to be clear of all potentially expose employees;      2. Prevent any employees from being at the receiving pit when vehicles back into the receiving pit area;       3. Install a pressure switch that the receiving pit attendant has to hold down, away from the zone of danger, prior to letting the vehicle operator to back up into the receiving pit area;      4. Install a video camera to allow the scale house operator to know where the receiving pit attendant is prior to allowing vehicles to back into the receiving area;      5. Conduct regular safety awareness training regarding the visibility hazards when working near or around the receiving pit.

Issued

Dec 29, 2014

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2): Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening:      The exit leading out of the head house near the South 20 pack area, had a ladder access platform leading to a ladder that did not have a swinging gate or an offset to prevent falling though the ladderway.

Issued

Dec 29, 2014

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(2): The employer did not promptly correct dust collection systems in the grain handling facility which were malfunctioning or operating below designed efficiency:    Employees working at the receiving pit were exposed to nuisance dust when receiving grain from trucks and the MAC dust collector was not maintained in a working condition.

Issued

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:      Employees were exposed to injuries in the event of a fire due to installations of equipment and electrical wiring was not intrinsically safe and approved for Class II locations:     On the bin deck, in the South 20 Pack Area, a conveyor motor was missing a dust-tight cover.

Issued

Dec 29, 2014

Abate by

Jan 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $765 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): Each recordable injury or illness was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log and/or an incident report (OSHA Form 301 or equivalent) within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:    On or about October 7, 2014, a temporary employee received work related injuries that required hospitalization for multiple days, and the employer did not record the injury on the OSHA 300 Log.