OSHA Inspection: WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE

Issued

May 9, 2017

Abate by

Jun 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $8,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including isolating the permit space:     The employer is failing to isolate all hazards including, but not limited to, physical and thermal hazards prior to allowing employees and sub-contractors to enter into permit required confined spaces including, but not limited to, evaporator vessels in the plant.  During cleaning operations of the vessels sub-contracted employees, including, but not limited to, wand operators are exposed to the potential over spill of hot sugar juice onto them from above in the vessel.  The employer failed to identify, evaluate and isolate the confined spaces without verifying that all potential hazards had been identified and isolation actions had been taken to ensure the space was safe to enter.  One instance, which occurred on or about January 6th, 2017 involved an entrant of an evaporator vessel being scalded when a valve leading to the vessel was not closed and locked out.  This allowed hot sugar juice to enter the vessel falling on the entrant in the facility located at 1200 Overland Drive, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Issued

May 9, 2017

Abate by

Jun 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:    The employer is failing to ensure that all employees and sub-contractors are utilizing lock-out/tag-out devices in accordance with this standard.   Employees and sub-contractors are exposed to including, but not limited to, physical and thermal hazards.  During cleaning operations of the vessels sub-contract employees, including, but not limited to, wand operators are exposed to the potential over spill of hot sugar juice onto them from above in the vessel.  The employer failed to identify and lock-out all valves entering into the confined spaces without verifying that all valves had been locked-out.  Additionally they did not affix their own locks to the valves to ensure the space was safe to enter.  One instance, which occurred on or about January 6th, 2017 involved an entrant of an evaporator vessel being scalded when a valve leading to the vessel was not closed and locked out.  This allowed hot sugar juice to enter the vessel falling on the entrant in the facility located at 1200 Overland Drive, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Issued

May 9, 2017

Abate by

Jun 5, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(6): Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that had been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee did not verify that isolation and de-energization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished:     The employer is failing to ensure that all employees and sub-contractors are not exposed to hazards including, but not limited to, physical and thermal hazards.  During cleaning operations of the vessels, sub-contract employees including, but not limited to, wand operators are exposed to the potential over spill of hot sugar juice onto them from above in the vessel.  The employer failed to verify that all valves were closed and locked-out and relied upon the host employer to identify and lock-out all valves entering into the confined spaces without verifying that all valves had been locked-out.  Additionally they did not affix their own locks to the valves to ensure the space was safe to enter.  One instance, which occurred on or about January 6th, 2017 involved an entrant of an evaporator vessel being scalded when a valve leading to the vessel was not closed and locked out.  This allowed hot sugar juice to enter the vessel falling on the entrant in the facility located at 1200 Overland Drive, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.