OSHA Inspection: STERLING ETHANOL, LLC

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1): The authorized employees did not have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy before the authorized or affected employees turned off the equipment:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016 the employer did not ensure that the authorized employees performing maintenance on the Evaporator 6 condensate drain line had knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards to control, and the method and means of control.  The employees were removing an electronic level transmitter in an attempt to unplug the process condensate line.  The employer did not ensure that the employees understood the stored energy behind the blockage, the hazards of the hot water, and the means and methods of controlling the it.  A blockage in the line broke loose,  and the maintenance technicians were sprayed with hot, scalding water. This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): All energy isolating devices that were needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment were not physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy sources:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016, the employer did not ensure that all energy isolating devices that were needed to control the energy to the Evaporate 6 condensate line were in place.  The employer closed a valve above a blockage in the condensate line.  The employer allowed authorized employees to work on the removal of the blockage, without ensuring that an additional isolating device was in place to control the hot water.  While removing an electronic level transmitter, the blockage came loose, and hot, scalding water sprayed on two maintenance technicians.  One employee was hospitalized with second degree burns.  This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(5)(i): Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was not relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016, the employer did not ensure that all stored or residual energy was relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise rendered safe.  The employer closed the valve above a blockage on the Evaporator 6 condensate line.  Two maintenance employees were removing an electronic level transmitter, when the blockage broke loose and they were sprayed with hot, scalding water.  One employee was hospitalized with second degree burns.  This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(6): Verification of isolation:  Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee did not verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016 the authorized employee did not verify that the block valves on the Evaporate 6 condensate line isolated all stored energy prior to performing maintenance activities.  In the process of changing out an electronic level meter to remove a blockage, the blockage came loose, and two maintenance technicians were sprayed with hot, scalding water.  One employee was hospitalized with second degree burns.  This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,700

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that would protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016 the employer did not ensure that each affected employee use the types of PPE that would protect the affected employee from heated water or condensate from the block valves on the condensate line from Evaporator 6.   In the process of changing out the electronic flow meter, a blockage in the condensate line from Evaporator 6 broke loose, and two maintenance technicians were sprayed with hot, scalding water.  One employee was hospitalized with second degree burns.  This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2016

Abate by

Jul 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(2): Each affected employee did not demonstrate an understanding of the training specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE:  a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before January 13, 2016 the employer did not ensure that each affected employee demonstrated an understanding of the use of PPE prior to performing maintenance work on the Evaporator 6 condensate line.  During an attempt to remove a blockage in the line, two maintenance technicians were sprayed with hot, scalding water. One employee was hospitalized with second degree burns.  This condition exposed employees to burn hazards.