OSHA Inspection: COOPERATIVE PRODUCERS, INC. - HAYLAND

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,471 · Current $2,471 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560X100

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.    The employer is failing to protect employees from the respiratory hazard of oxygen deficiency.  This was most recently documented at a worksite located at or near 7940 N. Hayland Avenue, Prosser, Nebraska on March 16, 2016.  Employee(s) entered the West McPherson/Bin 31 of soybeans on March 16, 2016, without monitoring for oxygen content prior to or during entry. The initial employee entrant was attempting to clear clogged sub-floor auger openings to remove soybeans from the bin.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,471 · Current $12,471

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(4): The employer did not implement procedures in the grain handling facility for the use of tags and locks which would prevent the inadvertent application of energy or motion to equipment being repaired, serviced, or adjusted, which could result in employee injury:    The employer is failing to protect employees from amputation and crushing injuries from the unexpected start-up of equipment by not ensuring that each authorized employee affixed a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism, during the replacement of belts on the belt and pulley system for the West McPherson / Bin 31 sub-floor auger motor. This was most recently documented on March 14 and March 15, 2016, when two employees worked together to replace defective belts for the sub-floor auger motor.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $124,709 · Current $124,709

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to bin 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:    The employer is failing to protect each employee entering a grain storage bin from hazards including, but not limited to amputation, entanglement, crushing injuries, and engulfment by not de-energizing, locking and tagging out the electrical sub-floor auger, or otherwise preventing it from operating by implementing other equally effective means. This was most recently documented at a worksite located at 7940 Hayland Avenue, Prosser, Nebraska under the following circumstances:    (a) On March 14, 2016 when employee #1 entered West McPherson/Bin 31 to use a rod or pole to help clear soybean debris that was clogging sump/floor openings during the operation of the sub-floor auger.  At the time of entry, Bin 31 contained approximately 50,000 to 60,000 bushels of soybeans.     (b) On March 15, 2016 when employees #2 and #3 entered West McPherson/Bin 31 to use a rod or pole to help clear soybean debris that was clogging sump/floor openings during the operation of the sub-floor auger. At the time of entry, Bin 31 contained approximately 50,000 to 60,000 bushels of soybeans.     To abate this violation, the employer must assure that each time an employee enters a grain storage structure at the facility, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment that presents a danger to employees inside the structure is de-energized, disconnected, locked out, tagged out, blocked-off, or otherwise effectively prevented from operating.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $124,709 · Current $12,471 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to bin 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:    The employer is failing to protect each employee entering a grain storage bin from hazards including, but not limited to amputation, entanglement, crushing injuries, and engulfment by not de-energizing, locking out, and tagging out the electrical sub-floor auger. This was most recently documented at a worksite located at 7940 Hayland Avenue, Prosser, Nebraska on March 16, 2016, Employee #3 entered West McPherson/Bin 31 to use a conduit pole to help clear soybean debris that was clogging unguarded sump/floor openings during the operation of the sub-floor auger. At the time of entry, Bin 31 contained approximately 50,000 to 60,000 bushels of soybeans. On March 16, 2016, employee #3 was fatally injured by asphyxiation when his rope lifeline became entangled with the running sub-floor auger in Bin 31.      To abate this violation, the employer must assure that each time an employee enters a grain storage structure at the facility, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment is de-energized, disconnected, locked out, tagged out, blocked-off, or otherwise effectively prevented from operating. 29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to bin 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:  The employer is failing to protect each employee entering a grain storage bin from hazards including, but not limited to amputation, entanglement, crushing injuries, and engulfment by not de-energizing, locking out, and tagging out the electrical sub-floor auger. This was most recently documented at a worksite located at 7940 Hayland Avenue, Prosser, Nebraska on March 15, 2016, when employees #2 and #3 entered West McPherson/Bin 31 to use a rod or pole to help clear soybean debris that was clogging unguarded sump/floor openings during the operation of the sub-floor auger. At the time of entry, Bin 31 contained approximately 50,000 to 60,000 bushels of soybeans.  To abate this violation, the employer must assure that each time an employee enters a grain storage structure at the facility, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment is de-energized, disconnected, locked out, tagged out, blocked-off, or otherwise effectively prevented from operating.