OSHA Inspection: BURNETT DAIRY COOPERATIVE

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations:     (a) Feed and Grain Division; The employer did not ensure confined space procedures were implemented and enforced when entering permit spaces including, but not limited to, the grain pits.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and/or for preventing unauthorized entry:     (a)  Feed and Grain Division; The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, and for preventing unauthorized entry to spaces including, but not limited to, the grain pits.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:     (a) Feed and Grain Division; The employer did not ensure permits were filled out before employees entered permit spaces including, but not limited to, the grain pits.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide adequate training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:     (a) Feed and Grain Division; The employer did not provide effective training to employee(s) entering permit spaces to ensure they understood their duties and were knowledgeable on the skills necessary to safely enter and perform tasks when entering the grain pits; deficiencies in training, included but were not limited to, lack of filling out confined space permits, not testing air quality before entry into permit spaces, and not ensuring  all other hazardous conditions had been eliminated before entry.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:     (a) Feed and Grain Division; Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy in areas including, but not limited to; the grain pits, grain bins, hammer mill, roller mill, bagger, load out bins, and the mixers.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control:     (a) Feed and Grain Division; Authorized employees did not receive adequate training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control in areas including, but not limited to; the grain pits, grain bins, hammer mill, roller mill, bagger, load out bins, and the mixers.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1): The employer did not provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job assignments would expose them to new hazards in the grain handling facilities:     (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; The employer did not provide additional training prior to employees job assignments changing, which exposed employee(s) to new hazards of entering a bin,  to unplug three sumps with greater amounts of corn than employee(s) were accustomed to.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): When employees entered the grain handling facility storage structures from a level at or above the level of stored grain, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer did not ensure the employee was equipped with a with a lifeline or alternative means to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep into the grain:     (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; The employer did not ensure the lifeline effectively prevented the entrant from sinking further than waist-deep into the corn. On November 21, 2014 an employee was engulfed in corn and died from asphyxiation.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:    (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; Prior to bin entry, the employee acting as an observer during a corn bin entry was not provided with equipment for rescue operations. On November 21, 2014 an employee was engulfed in corn and died from asphyxiation, the observer had no way of pulling the employee to safety through the rope method utilized.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(5): The employee acting as an observer for bin, tank, or silo entry operations in the grain handling facility was not trained in rescue procedures, including notification methods for obtaining additional assistance:     (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; The employee acting as the observer was not trained effectively in necessary rescue procedures for employee(s) entering corn bins.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $70,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to entry, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presented a danger to employees inside grain storage structures in the grain handling facility were not disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:    (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; The employer did not ensure that the drag conveyor was effectively deenergized and locked out prior to the employee entering the bin. On November 21, 2014 an employee was engulfed in corn and died from asphyxiation.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iv): The employer did not prohibit  "walking down grain" and similar practices where the employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain:    (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; While attempting to unclog sump(s) within the bin an employee was exposed to moving corn, creating an engulfment hazard. On November 21, 2014 an employee was engulfed in corn and died from asphyxiation.

Issued

May 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 oxygen content prior to employee entry:     (a) Feed and Grain Division, Brock Wet Bin; The employer did not ensure that atmospheric testing was conducted prior to and during bin entry when continuous ventilation was not provided.