OSHA Inspection: O.K. INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards.      a. On or about March 23, 2015, 4th floor of feed mill, feed processing bins vented grain product dust inside the building during feed processing.          b. On or about March 23, 2015, 3rd floor of feed mill, night shift employees were not informed of oxygen-acetylene torch cutting in mash feed bin 84 during feed processing.     Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that an appropriate venting and control of hot work is in place.    Among other methods one feasible and acceptable method of abatement is to follow NFPA 51B and 61 Standards for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities, 2013 Edition.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Grouped as one Serious violation with Citation 1, Item 3.  Also, the citation will now read as follows:      29 CFR 1910.272(m)(4): The employer did not implement  written procedures in the grain handling facility to prevent the inadvertent application of energy or motion to equipment being repaired, serviced, or adjusted:      a. On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill 4th floor, the employer did not implement written procedures to block off piping between the distributor and mash feed bins 84 and 85.        b. On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill 3rd floor, the employer did not implement written procedures for the use of tags and locks for pneumatic slide gates of mash feed bins 84 and 85.      Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that an appropriate  energy control procedures are available and in use. .

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Grouped as one Serious violation with Citation 1, Item 2.  Also, the Citation will now read as follows:    29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(ii): Current employees and new employees prior to starting work in the grain handling facility were not trained in the specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, hot work procedures, preventive maintenance procedures and lock out tag out procedures:     On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill, the employer, though it provided training to certain employees, it did not ensure annual training on lockout tagout procedures was provided to all authorized or affected employees.         Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that appropriate energy control training has been done.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces:    On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill, the employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program to prevent accumulations of grain product dust.  Grain product dust accumulations were present on elevated surfaces including but not limited the top surfaces of enclosed conveyors and wall ledges which exposes employees to fire and explosion hazards.       Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that an appropriate  written housekeeping program is in place

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(3): Employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations were not protected by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.132:       On or about March 23, 2015, 3rd floor of feed mill, the employer did not provide a night shift temporary cleanup worker with protective clothing.      Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that appropriate personal protective clothing is provided and used.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(v): Where combustible materials such as paper clippings, wood shavings, or textile fibers were on the floor, the employer did not ensure that the floor was swept clean for a radius of 35 feet (10.7 m) from the cutting or welding operation:     On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill 3rd floor, the employer did not ensure mash feed on the floor was cleaned a radius of 35 feet from oxygen-acetylene torch cutting done by two contractor employees in mash feed bin 84.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that combustible materials are removed from the cutting and welding areas.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:    On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill, 4th floor, an extension cord lacked a grounding prong and was used to power portable lights in bins 84 and 85.      Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that all electrical circuits and cords have appropriate grounding.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service and an employee was using it before repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe were made:     On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill, 4th floor, an extension cord used to power drop lights in mash feed bins 84 and 85 had a cut in the outer jacket.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that all damaged electrical equipment is removed from service.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical in use:     a. On or about March 26, 2015, feed mill, a safety data sheet was not obtained for hazardous chemicals including but not limited to soybean meal (combustible dust).             b. On or about March 26, 2015, feed mill, a safety data sheet was not obtained for hazardous chemicals including but not limited to ground corn (combustible dust).        Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that all safety data sheets are obtained and available.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not ensure that material safety data sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift:     On or about March 26, 2015, feed mill, a safety data sheet for hazardous chemicals including but not limited to compressed oxygen (oxidizer) for torch cutting, was not readily available to employees.  The safety data sheet for compressed oxygen was only available through the employers intranet website, and all employees were not trained on how to access safety data sheets through the employers intranet website.       Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that all safety data sheets are obtained and available.

Issued

Sep 22, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $38,500 · Current $7,000 Reduced

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 other-wise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:        a. On or about March 23, 2015, feed mill 4th floor, the employer did not de-energize the distributor for bins 84, 85; and did not disconnect, lockout and tag, or block-off the pipes between the distributor and mash feed bins 84 and 85 when contractors worked in the bins and used oxygen-acetylene torches.      Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that equipment and conditions that present a danger prior to entry are  disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked-off, or other-wise prevented from operating.