OSHA Inspection: PRINZ GRAIN & FEED

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,799 · Current $4,181 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    The employer is failing to protect employees from atmospheric hazards such as exposure to limited oxygen, carbon monoxide gas, and hydrogen sulfide gas while entering permit required confined spaces to conduct cleaning and maintenance activities.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill pit containing the bottom of the bucket elevator legs, the feed mixer and conveyors located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska 68788.  The written confined space entry program does not address the proper procedures for evaluating and controlling atmospheric and physical hazards within permit required confined spaces prior entry, the use of entry permits, non-entry rescued and retrieval devices, training requirements, and the roles and responsibilities of all entrants, attendants, and supervisors.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,799 · Current $4,181 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(viii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide rescue and emergency equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9):    The employer is failing to protect employees from atmospheric hazards such as exposure to limited oxygen, carbon monoxide gas, and hydrogen sulfide gas while entering permit required confined spaces to conduct cleaning and maintenance activities.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill pit containing the bottom of the bucket elevator legs, the feed mixer and conveyors located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska 68788.  Rescue equipment including but not limited to harnesses, retrieval tripods and rescue lines are not provided to employees as a means of non-entry rescue while they enter the pit to conduct cleaning and maintenance activities.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,799 · Current $4,181 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed:    The employer is failing to protect employees from atmospheric hazards such as exposure to limited oxygen, carbon monoxide gas, and hydrogen sulfide gas while entering permit required confined spaces to conduct cleaning and maintenance activities.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill pit containing the bottom of the bucket elevator legs, the feed mixer and conveyors located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska 68788.  Air monitoring is not conducted prior to permitting employees to enter the pit where carbon monoxide gas can settle from vehicles idling in the adjacent truck dump area, and hydrogen sulfide gas can accumulate diminishing the level of oxygen due to the decomposition of spilled grain exposed to moisture.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,799 · Current $4,181 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:    The employer is failing to ensure that confined space entry permits are completed prior to authorizing employees to enter pits exposing them to a possible deficient atmosphere and entrapment hazards.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill pit containing the bottom of the bucket elevator legs, the feed mixer and conveyors located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska 68788.  Employees entered the pit to conduct cleaning and maintenance of equipment without preparing an entry permit.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,799 · Current $4,181 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:    The employer is failing to protect employees from atmospheric hazards such as exposure to limited oxygen, carbon monoxide gas, and hydrogen sulfide gas while entering permit required confined spaces to conduct cleaning and maintenance activities.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill pit containing the bottom of the bucket elevator legs, the feed mixer and conveyors located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska 68788.  Employees entering the pit are not trained on the hazards of entering the permit required confined space. Employees are not trained on the methods to control the hazards associated with confined space entry which include but are not limited to how to conduct atmospheric testing of the pit, the use of equipment for non-entry rescue, and how to properly complete an entry permit.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,880 · Current $2,509 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    The employer is failing to protect employees from hazards including but not limited to respiratory and skin irritation.  This violation was most recently documented on or about May 4, 2016 and at times thereafter in the north feed mill located at 575 S Main Street, West Point, Nebraska, 68788.  Employees are not provided effective information and training on the hazards of chemicals such as but not limited to Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate 30 Premix, Fermycin 50, Lincomix, and Denagard 10 Medicated Premix and the precautions to take to safely handle these products when mixing feed.