OSHA Inspection: MATSCHE FARMS INC.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to hazardous corrosive chemicals:    (a)  On or about August 17, 2015 in the milking parlor, employees were exposed to severe burn hazards to their eyes and face when they transferred and used Tru-Blu Parlor Brite into open buckets to clean and sanitize the floors and walls without wearing any appropriate eye or face protection.      (b) On or about August 17, 2015 in the milking parlor, employees were exposed to severe burn hazards to their eyes and face when they utilized high pressure spray to rinse down the floors and walls after applying Tru-Blu Parlor Brite without wearing any appropriate eye or face protection.      (c)  On or about August 17, 2015 in the maternity barn, employees were exposed to severe burn hazards to their eyes and face when they transferred Hoof Effects Foot Solutions Foot Bath concentrate to the maternity pen foot baths via a five gallon bucket without wearing any appropriate eye or face protection.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $7000.00

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to atmospheric hazards:  (a)  On or about August 14, 2015, an employee was asphyxiated while exposed to atmospheric hazard when working in an 8000 gallon polyethylene whey tank in an attempt to open a ball valve.  The employee entered the partially filled whey tank without quantifying and eliminating atmospheric hazards.   (b)  On or about July 20, 2015, employees entered an approximately ten foot deep manure reception pit located at the west end of the free stall barns to manually remove manure solids without quantifying and eliminating atmospheric hazards.    (c)  On or about July 20, 2015, employees entered an approximately nine foot deep manure reception pit located in the separator room to manually remove manure solids without quantifying and eliminating atmospheric hazards.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met: (Agriculture Reference: 1928.21(a)(5))    The employer did not develop, and implement a written hazard communication program addressing employee training, chemical labeling and maintenance of safety data sheets when working with hazardous chemicals such as Tru-Blu Parlor Brite, OxySans, and Hoof Effects Foot Solutions among others in the milking parlor, and maternity barn.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information specified under paragraphs (f)(6)(i) through (ii) of this section:  The employer did not ensure that diesel fuel in a parts washer located in the maintenance shop was labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity and hazards of its contents.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace:   The employer did not maintain safety data sheets in the workplace for the hazardous chemicals they used such as Tru-Blu Parlor Brite, OxySans, and Hoof Effects Foot Solutions among others in the milking parlor, maternity barn, and maintenance shop.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area: (Agriculture Reference: 1928.21(a)(5))  The employer did not train employees on the hazardous chemicals they used such as Tru-Blu Parlor Brite, OxySans, and Hoof Effects Foot Solutions among others in the milking parlor, maternity barn, and maintenance shop.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.51(b)(2)(i)(A): Where ROPS were required by this section, the employer did not provide each tractor with a seatbelt which meets the requirements of this paragraph:    The employer permitted employees to operate a JCB Telehandler (S/N SLP506C05E0588702) that had the seatbelt unbolted and removed.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(a)(6): At the time of initial assignment, and at least annually thereafter, the employer did not instruct every employee in the safe operation and servicing of all covered equipment with which he was or would be involved:    The employer did not train employees in the safe operation and servicing of farmstead and farm field equipment including the requirements to disconnect power sources, lockout out electrical power, ensure everyone is clear of machinery, and ensure guards are in place when operating equipment throughout the farm.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(2)(i): The mesh or nip-points of all power driven gears, belts, chains, sheaves, pulleys, sprockets, and idlers were not guarded:    (a)  On or about August 17, 2015, two rotating gates located in the milking parlor did not have their power driven chains and sprockets guarded.    (b)  On or about September 2, 2015, a calf feed auger located in calf barn #1 had a broken cover exposing employees to the power driven belt and pulleys.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $700.00

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.   Located at Matsche Farms, Inc. N9035 River Rd. Birnamwood, WI 54414: On or about August 17, 2015, the employer did not record the following workplace injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 Log for calendar year 2015.  (a)  On or about August 14, 2015, an employee asphyxiated while working in a liquid whey tank.  (b)  On or about August 10, 2015, an employee received a contusion requiring medical treatment on the left foot.  (c)  On or about July 25, 2015, an employee was kicked in the right elbow causing trauma to the right elbow and upper arm requiring medical treatment.

Issued

2016-01-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.51(d): Every employee who operates an agricultural tractor was not informed of operating practices contained in Appendix A of this part and of any other practices dictated by the work environment.  Employees who operated agricultural tractors were not provided initial and annual training on safe operating practices when performing field work, feeding and cleaning, manure handling, and horizontal bunker silo compaction among others job tasks.