OSHA Inspection: MOUNTAIN WEST, LLC

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,741 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8)(ii): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk was not guarded by either a standard railing or a floor hole cover of standard strength and construction:       (a) Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the platform attached to Feeder/Hopper#1 did not have employees exposed to floor holes on the platform. The platform had multiple floor holes approximately two to three inches in width.  Employees would gain access to the platform prior to entering hopper #1. This condition exposes employees to sprains, lacerations, and fractures.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,988 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  Open sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:       (a) Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not ensure the open-sided floor or platform connected to the new trommel system as identified as Feeder/Hopper # 2 was guarded by a standard guardrail protecting employees from fall hazards. Employees and maintenance employees accessed the platform to work and clean. The platform was was approximately 10 feet in height. This condition exposed the employee to a fall hazard greater than 4 feet in height.     Abatement Note:  The following is provided to assist in the abatement of this hazard:       (a)A standard railing shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and shall have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. The top rail shall be smooth-surfaced throughout the length of the railing. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.       (b)A standard toeboard shall be 4 inches nominal in vertical height from its top edge to the level of the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. It shall be securely fastened in place and with not more than 1/4-inch clearance above floor level. It may be made of any substantial material either solid or with openings not over 1 inch in greatest dimension.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,741 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(a)(5)(iii):  The employer did not review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the emergency action plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency:       (a)Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not review with each employee upon initial assignment, those parts of the emergency action plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency, such as but not limited to the following:       (1)        Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments;       (2)        Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;       (3)        Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;       (4)        Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them;       (5)        Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,741 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated from the energy source, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):       (a) Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated from the energy source, and rendered inoperative, including but not limited to the following:     (1)        Feeder/Hopper #1   (2)        Feeder/Hopper #2   (3)        Feeder/Hopper #3        Abatement Note:  As part of an energy-control program, employers must:       1) Establish energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lock-out or tag-out devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected re-energization. When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially re-accumulated energy.       2)Train employees on the energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and       3)Inspect these procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.     The energy-control procedures must outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance. These procedures must provide employees at least the following information       1)      A statement on how to use the procedures;       2)      Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines;       3)      Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices and identifying who has responsibility for the lockout/tagout devices; and       4)      Specific requirements for testing machines to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy-control measures.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,741 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6):  The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated in the safe operation of the forklifts in the workplace:       (a) Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not certify that the forklift operator had been trained and evaluated as required by 29 CFR 1910.178(l) in the topics as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3). Employees operate different types of forklifts with different manufacturers within the facility.        Abatement Note:  The certification shall include:       (1)  The name of the operator;   (2)  The date of the training;   (3)  The date of the evaluation; and,   (4)  The identity of the person(s) performing the training and evaluation.       Abatement Note:  Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7):  Industrial trucks were not examined before being placed in service:     (a)Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the powered industrial trucks were examined daily before being placed in service.  The Toyota 25 had rear lights that were missing and the back-up alarm was damaged and inoperable. The Hyster H50XM had a broken lighting on the rear of the fork truck. This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of operating forklifts without proper inspections.

Issued

Sep 9, 2016

Abate by

Oct 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,741 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:        (a)Mountain West, LLC @ 21727 Sidney Stage Road, Piedmont, SD 57769: On or prior to April 7, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the drive sprocket and 120 pitched roller chain located on the exterior of feeder/hopper #3 was provided with a guard. The guard had been damaged and was lying below the chain drive. This condition exposed the employees to amputation hazards of ingoing nip points.