OSHA Inspection: THREE RIVERS ENERGY, LLC

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,415 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    a. The employer as part of the hazard assessment did not identify the hazard of flash fires or burns to employees in the ethanol processing area and require the use of Flame resistant clothing, thereby exposing the employees to fire hazards.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.137(c)(2)(viii): Electrical protective equipment shall be subjected to periodic electrical tests. Test voltages and the maximum intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table I-4 and Table I-5.    a. The electrically rated protective gloves were not tested in accordance with Table I-5 for testing frequency, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer shall evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces.   NOTE: Proper application of the decision flow chart in Appendix A to section 1910.146 would facilitate compliance with this requirement.    a. The employer had not finished evaluating the workplace for permit-required confined spaces, thereby exposing employees to atmospheric hazards such as but not limited to oxygen displacement and low oxygen levels.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.   NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.    a. The entry into the grain tunnels were not marked with confined space signage, thereby exposing employees to atmospheric hazards such as but not limited to oxygen displacement and low oxygen levels.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;    a. The employer did not include the types of energy to be isolated as part of the procedures, thereby exposing employees to a caught in or struck by hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,415 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    a. The employer failed to train employees on fire extinguisher use despite the Emergency Action Plan authorizing employees to fight incipient fires, thereby exposing the employees to fire hazards.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.165(b)(2): The employee alarm shall be capable of being perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in the affected portions of the workplace. Tactile devices may be used to alert those employees who would not otherwise be able to recognize the audible or visual alarm.    a. The employer relies on the use of radios to notify employees of emergencies other than fires, the radios do not have a visual component nor are they above ambient noise, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with fires and explosions

Issued

May 6, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.    a. In the grain handling department the intersystem conveyor head had 2 inches of exposed shaft, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.      b. In the grain department the DDGS reclaim elevator motor had two unguarded shafts the 2 inches at five feet and 4 inches at 6 feet, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.      c. In the DD&E building there were 6 inadequately guarded pump motors with 3 inches of horizontal shafting each, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.      d. In the tank farm there were four pump motors with 2 inches of unguarded horizontal shaft each, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2): General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.    a.     In the grain handling department there was a 3 inch by 3 inch hole in the guard for motor FX1246, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.    b.     In the grain handling department motor FA-1436 had two 3 inch holes in the guard, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.    c.     In the grain handling department the motor FA-1438 had a 3 inch hole on the top of the guard, thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $5,349

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.      a. In the maintenance department a battery charging terminal and radio equipment were stored on the transformer contrary to listing and labeling, thereby exposing the employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(e)(1)(ii): Other markings giving voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings as necessary.    a. The panel located in the DDGS office was not marked with the voltage, current, wattage or other ratings, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.    b. In the load out area the pump disconnect and panel boxes were not marked with voltage, current, wattage or other ratings, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.      c. In the MCC room of the Main production building all MCC disconnects and boxes without markings with voltage, current, wattage or other ratings, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Services, feeders, and branch circuits. Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident.    a. The disconnect for the load out pump was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, thereby exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the following means:    a. In the MCC room below the Pro-Environmental Inc. Box the 120/225 VAC enclosure was missing, thereby exposing employees to live energized parts.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.    a. In the motor control room their was a piece of cardboard fastened into an unused opening, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Covers and canopies. All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings shall be provided with covers identified for the purpose. If metal covers are used, they shall be grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box shall have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy. Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants pass shall be provided with bushings designed for the purpose or shall have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords may bear.    a. The junction box near the syrup tank was missing a cover, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $3,567

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Use of flexible cords and cables. Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used: As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;    a. In the maintenance department the employer was using an extension cord in lieu of fixed wiring, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and no employee may use it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made.     a. In the maintenance shop their was a flexible cord used to power overhead lights that was damaged and wrapped with electrical tape, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.