OSHA Inspection: RITTER GRAIN SERVICES

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(1)(ii): Cages or wells shall be provided for fixed ladders of more than 20 feet (except as provided in subparagraph 5 of this paragraph) to a maximum unbroken length of 30 feet:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not install a cage or well on an approximately 100ft fixed ladder in the rice elevator building, which employees used as an emergency escape route.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(2):  Fixed ladder(s), used to ascend to heights exceeding 20 feet and equipped with cages or wells, were not provided with landing platform(s) for each 30 feet of height or fraction thereof:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the approximately 110ft fixed ladder outside of the rice elevator building on the east wall was not equipped with landing platforms, exposing employees to fall from height hazards when used as an emergency escape route.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(5): Ladder safety devices were not used on tower, water tank, and chimney ladders over 20 feet in unbroken length in lieu of cage protection.      On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not install any other ladder safety devices in lieu of cage protection on an approximately 100ft fixed ladder in the rice elevator building, which employees used as an emergency escape route.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Dec 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(f): Ladders were not maintained in a safe condition or inspected regularly:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the fixed ladder on the east wall outside of the rice elevator building, which employees used as an emergency escape route was completely missing approximately 10ft of the bottom part of the ladder.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $5,000 Reduced

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:     On or about July 28, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not provide adequate bin entry training to employees performing work on grain augers in grain storage bins.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $5,000 Reduced

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:     On or about July 28, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not issue a permit for entering grain bins to employees assigned to enter and perform work on grain augers in the grain bins.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 17, 2016

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:  On or about July 28, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not test the atmosphere within the grain bins for the presence of combustible gases, oxygen deficiency, and toxic pesticides prior to employee entry to perform work on grain augers.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): Whenever an employee enters a grain storage structure from a level at or above the level of the stored grain or grain products, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer shall equip the employee with a body harness with lifeline, or a boatswain's chair that meets the requirements of subpart D of this part. The lifeline shall be so positioned, and of sufficient length, to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain. Exception: Where the employer can demonstrate that the protection required by this paragraph is not feasible or creates a greater hazard, the employer shall provide an alternative means of protection which is demonstrated to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain.     On or about July 26, 2016, the employer did not equip employees with body harnesses, lifelines, boatswain chairs, or an alternative means of protection when they entered 301 grain bin to perform work on the grain auger.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3): The employer did not maintain a certification record of each preventive maintenance inspection, performed in accordance with this paragraph (m), containing the date of the inspection, the name of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the equipment specified in paragraph (m)(1)(i) of this section that was inspected.    On or about July 29, 2016, the employer did not maintain a certification record of each preventive maintenance inspection performed on the equipment at the facility.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 15, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,236 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): When there was a defect or evidence of damage that could expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item was not removed from service until the repairs and tests necessary to render the electric equipment safe had been made:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the flexible cords on the Miller Electric AC/DC Stick Welder in the maintenance shop were frayed, duct-taped, and not removed from service exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2): Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not visually inspect the portable fire extinguishers in the maintenance shop, Truck Dump #4, and Rice Elevator exposing employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Nov 3, 2016

Abate by

Nov 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:    On or about July 29, 2016 and there prior, the W1680 17" drill press in the maintenance shop was not securely bolted to the floor exposing employees to struck-by hazards.