OSHA Inspection: MCINTOSH-WATAUGA EQUITY

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2138.00 · Current $1500.00 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 were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards.     (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641: On or about April 8, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while using the hand operated man-lift located within the McIntosh-Watauga elevator. Employees used the hand powered man-lift to gain access to upper levels of the elevator. The platform was not enclosed on the sides not used for entrance. This condition exposes employees to fall hazards and struck-by hazards.        Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to follow the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard A17.1-2010, "Handbook on Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. Section 4.3.9 states, car enclosures shall be enclosed on the sides not used for entrance. The deflection of the enclosure shall be not more than 6 mm (0.25 in.) when subjected to a force of 334 N (75 lbf) applied perpendicularly to the car enclosure at any point. The enclosure shall be secured to the car platform or frame in such a manner that it cannot work loose or become displaced in ordinary service.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2850.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):     (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641:  On or prior to April 8, 2016, the employer did not ensure belts with parts seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were guarded. Three augers at the bottom of bins located adjacent to the elevator were not guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between hazards.       Abatement Note:  One method of guarding such a machine is by expanded metal, perforated or solid sheet metal, wire mesh on a frame of angle iron, or iron pipe securely fastened to floor or to frame of machine ensuring all metal is free from burrs and sharp edges.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) & (o):   (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St, McIntosh, SD 57641:  On or prior to April 8, 2016, the employer did not ensure belt and pulley assembly with parts seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were guarded. Three augers located at the bottom of three bins located adjacent to the elevator were not guarded. This condition exposed the employees to fractures and amputation hazards.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2850.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer shall issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks unless the employer or the employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation. The permit shall certify that the precautions contained in this paragraph (1910.272(g)) have been implemented prior to employees entering bins, silos or tanks. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the entry operations.      (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641: On or about April 8, 2016, the employer did not issue a permit for employees entering bins to perform cleaning. The employer had employees enter bins to clean out the remaining wheat that was stored in the bin. The employer did not establish a system of issuing permits for employees accessing bins. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.      (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641: On or about April 8, 2016, the employer did not de-energize electrical power sources when employees were working within bins to conduct cleaning operations. The employer had not established a policy that ensured electrical and mechanical equipment was locked and tagged out prior to entry. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2850.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iii): The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents when the employer has reason to believe they may be present. Additionally, the atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for oxygen content unless there is continuous natural air movement or continuous forced-air ventilation before and during the period employees are inside. If the oxygen level is less than 19.5%, or if combustible gas or vapor is detected in excess of 10% of the lower flammable limit, or if toxic agents are present in excess of the ceiling values listed in Subpart Z of 29 CFR Part 1910, or if toxic agents are present in concentrations that will cause health effects which prevent employees from effecting self-rescue or communication to obtain assistance, the following provisions apply.    (a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641: On or about April 8, 2016, the employer did not de-energize test the atmosphere within bins employees entered. The bins were not tested for combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents when the employer has reason to believe that may be present. The employer used phosphine gas to fumigate bins containing wheat. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

2016-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-10-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2850.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program which at least described how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also included a hazardous chemicals list and methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks.       a)McIntosh-Watauga Equity @ 101 Railroad St., McIntosh, SD 57641: On or about April 8, 2016, the employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program which at least described how the criteria specified for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also included a hazardous chemicals list and methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, had not been developed for employee exposures, such as but not limited to the following chemicals:     (1)     PhosFume