OSHA Inspection: B.H. FARM INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,173 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): Covers and/or guardrails were not provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.    a) Garage, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - An unguarded pit existed in the garage floor adjacent to the pathway employees used to gain access to the bathroom exposing the employees to a fall hazard greater than four-foot (>4'), on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every pit or trapdoor floor opening that was infrequently used was not guarded by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction.  a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA  Employees walked/worked on the fourth floor that had five (5) unguarded grain storage bin floor openings exposing employees to fall hazards greater than four-foot (>4'), on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,173 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent).    a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The open-sided fourth floor above the third/fourth floors fixed wooden stairway was not guarded with a standard railing exposing employees to a fall hazard greater than four-foot (>4'), on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(ii): Stairway(s) less than 44 inches wide having one side open, did not have at least one stair railing on the open side:    a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The south side of the twelve-riser, twenty two-inch (22") wide fixed wooden stairway between the third and fourth floors was open and lacked a stair railing exposing employees to a fall hazard greater than four-foot (>4'), on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,630 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2): Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly    a) Fourth Floor, Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The Amerex 10 LB Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher mounted on the south wall had not been inspected since May, 2003. The portable fire extinguisher was not charged and employees who attempted to extinguish a fire with the portable fire extinguisher were exposed to fire hazards, as observed on or about October 28, 2016.    b) Third Floor, Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The Amerex 10 LB Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher mounted on the west wall had not been inspected since May, 2003. The portable fire extinguisher was not fully charged and employees who attempted to extinguish a fire with the portable fire extinguisher were exposed to fire hazards, as observed on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:    a) Fourth Floor, Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The Amerex 10 LB Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher  mounted on the south wall had not received an annual maintenance check since April, 2003. The portable fire extinguisher was not charged and employees who attempted to extinguish a fire with the portable fire extinguisher were exposed to fire hazards, as observed on or about October 28, 2016.    a) Third Floor, Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - The Amerex 10 LB Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher mounted on the west wall had not received an annual maintenance check since April, 2003. The portable fire extinguisher was not fully charged and employees who attempted to extinguish a fire with the portable fire extinguisher were exposed to fire hazards, as observed on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,803 · Current $3,800 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.    a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Employees that entered the top of the confined space grain storage bins such as but not limited to the Distillers Bin and Wheat Midd Bin, in order to remove blockages were not provided training to perform the task safely. Specifically, the employees were not trained:  i.    On how to fill out entry permits;  ii.    On the equipment/procedures associated with testing the air quality prior to entry;  iii.    On the duties of the entrant;  iv.    On the duties of the attendant;  v.    On the use of rescue equipment/rescue procedures; and  vi.    On the hazards associated with grain engulfment.  The lack of training exposed employees to engulfment, respiratory, and emergency escape hazards, on or about October 28, 2016  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), abatement certification and documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 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) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA  Employees entered grain storage bins from the top in order to move grain, break-up crusted grain and/or fill voids below the grain without the issuance of a permit certifying conditions were safe to enter the bin exposing the employees to engulfment, respiratory, and emergency escape hazards, on or about October 28, 2016.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), abatement certification and documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): When entering the grain handling facility bins, silos, or tanks from the top, employees did not wear a body harness with lifeline, or use a boatswain's chair that met the requirements of Subpart D, 29 CFR 1910.28(j).  a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Employees entered grain storage bins from the top in order to move grain, break-up crusted grain and/or fill voids below the grain surface without a body harness with lifeline or use of a boatswain's chair exposing the employees to an engulfment hazard, on or about October 28, 2016.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), abatement certification and documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 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) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Employees entered grain storage bins from the top to move grain, break-up crusted grain and/or fill voids below the grain surface without an observer (attendant) being present exposing the employees to an engulfment hazard, on or about October 28, 2016.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), abatement certification and documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered.  a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Employees entered the top of grain storage bins to move grain, break-up crusted grain and/or fill voids below the grain surface without rescue equipment being available in the event of an emergency exposing the employees to engulfment and emergency escape hazards, on or about October 28, 2016.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c) and (d), abatement certification and documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Abate by

Feb 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,716 · Current $200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces.    a) Top floor, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Fugitive grain dust in depths up to two-inches had accumulated on the floor, edges, steps, hole covers, electrical equipment, temporary electrical lights and fire extinguishers due to the lack of an adequate housekeeping program which exposed employees to explosion and fire hazards, as observed on or about October 28, 2016.

Issued

Feb 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:  a) Mill, 175 North Center Street, Hop Bottom, PA - Employees walked/worked on the fourth floor that had three (3) unguarded floor holes exposing employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards, on or about October 28, 2016.