OSHA Inspection: LARSON GRAIN COMPANY

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016, and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to fall and/or caught-in hazards while conducting grain bin cleaning operations with the conveyor in operation and the sump holes uncovered at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(1): Every wall opening from which there was a drop of more than 4 feet was not guarded:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to an approximate seven foot fall hazard while accessing and egressing from the wet bin access door at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential respiratory hazards where the employer mandated the use of Moldex, model no. 2300N95 and/or 3M, model no. 8511N95 particulate respirators while conducting grain elevator work activities at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.    Abatement Note:  A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program shall include all of the following requirements:    1. Written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators shall be established.    2. Only approved respirators shall be used.  Respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed.    3. Respirators must be provided free-of-charge where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.    4. Employers must provide (free-of-charge) a medical evaluation to determine each employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.    5. Before initial respirator use, fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators where such respirators are required by OSHA or where the employer requires the use of such a respirator.    6. The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations.    7. Surveillance of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress shall be conducted.    8. Employer must ensure the use of respirators where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.    9. Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary condition.    10. Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and contamination.    11. Respirators shall be inspected during cleaning and repaired when necessary.    12. There shall be regular inspection and evaluation to determine the continued effectiveness of the program.    13. Compressed breathing air must meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air.    14. The employer must establish and retain medical evaluations and fit-testing records.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential respiratory hazards with potential overexposure to grain dust while conducting grain elevator work activities, to include but not limited to housekeeping and bin cleanout at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1): The employer designated rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of this section and did not evaluate the prospective rescuer's ability by the criteria set in this section, (k)(1)(i) - (k)(1)(v):    (a) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to health and/or physical hazards where the boot pit was entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities in the main elevator at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3): In the grain handling facility an observer, equipped to provide assistance, was not stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to health and/or physical hazards where grain storage bins were entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities in the main elevator at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    (a) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to caught-in hazards were the grain elevating leg inspection door was accessed on leg no. 1 at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.      (b) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to caught-in hazards were the grain elevating leg inspection door was accessed on leg no. 2 at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    (a) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to caught-in hazards were the CEA-Carter Day Disc Cylinder Separator, Order No. F-4296, Serial No. 214, Style No. RC9-X was operated in the main elevator at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $38,500 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer failed to test or adequately test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin:    (a) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential health and/or physical hazards where the main elevator boot pit was entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry into a permit space was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:    (a) On or about June 2, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential health and/or physical hazards where the main elevator boot pit was entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees entered the bins, silos, or tanks:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date for employees exposed to health and/or physical hazards where grain storage bins were entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date for employees exposed to health and/or physical hazards where grain storage bins were entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $49,000 · Current $24,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(ii): Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work in the grain handling facility were not trained in the specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to lock-out/tag-out procedures:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 for the employees exposed to caught-in hazards including the employee who sustained injuries while conducting cleaning activities in the wet bin where the sweep auger was not locked out at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016, for the employee who sustained serious injury while conducting cleaning activities in the wet bin where the sweep auger start switch was initiated at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.

Issued

Jul 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(2): Employees assigned special tasks in the grain handling facility, such as bin entry and handling of flammable or toxic substances, were not provided training to perform these tasks safety:    (a) On or about April 9, 2016 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential health hazards where grain bins were entered and the employer failed to provide sufficient operational training on atmospheric testing equipment at 103 Railroad Avenue, Fredonia, North Dakota.