OSHA Inspection: FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

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 oxygen content prior to employee entry:     The employer is failing to ensure employees are protected from the hazard of asphyxiation and/or toxic substances during grain bin entry operations.  This was most recently documented 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had employees perform a grain bin entry on Bin Nine without testing the atmosphere prior to entry.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3):  In the grain handling facility communications (visual, voice, or signal line) were not maintained between the observer and employee entering the bin, silo, or tank:           The employer is failing to ensure employees are protected from engulfment hazards.  The employer is failing to provide adequate methods of communication between the entrant and attendant while conducting grain bin entries.  This was most recently documented at 14540 W. W. Railroad St., Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4th, 2017 when the employer had an employee acting as an attendant during a bin entry with the under bin withdrawal auger running.  The attendant could not see the entrant and could not clearly hear the entrant calling for help during an engulfment.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

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:           The employer is failing to ensure rescue equipment suited for the bin was available on site during bin entry operations exposing the employees to the hazards associated with grain bin entry such as but not limited to engulfment, asphyxiation, and mechanical hazards.  This was most recently documented 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had employees perform a grain bin entry on Bin Nine without rescue equipment available on site.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(5): The employee acting as an observer for bin, tank, or silo entry operations in the grain handling facility was not trained in rescue procedures, including notification methods for obtaining additional assistance:              The employer is failing to ensure employees performing as an observer for grain storage structure entry (grain bin) are trained in rescue procedures and methods for obtaining assistance in the event of a bin entry emergency.  This was most recently documented 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had employees perform a grain bin entry on Bin nine involving an untrained observer.  The employer is failing to ensure that employees who act as the observer during an entry have been trained on the procedures for bin rescue and the methods available to obtain additional assistance.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $126,749 · Current $126,749

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:         The employer is failing to ensure employees performing grain storage structure entry (grain bin) activities are protected from hazards including but not limited to engulfment, asphyxiation, and amputation.  This was most recently documented at 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had failed to ensure an entry permit was completed certifying that the provisions of 1910.272(g) had be implemented prior to entry.  The employer allowed an entry into Bin Nine to commence without the permitting process being initiated and completed.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $126,749 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to 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:          The employer is failing to ensure employees are protected from amputation, stuck-by, and engulfment hazards when conducting bin entry activities.  This was most recently documented at 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had an employee enter grain Bin Nine while the under bin auger was running.  The employer allowed the employee to enter with the under bin auger running to facilitate the removal of grain (soy beans) from the bin.  During the entry, the employee became partially engulfed/entrapped in the flowing grain created by the running auger system.

Issued

Nov 1, 2017

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $69,713 · Current $12,675 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:              The employer is failing to ensure employees performing grain storage structure entry (grain bin) activities are protected from hazards including but not limited to engulfment and asphyxiation.  This was most recently documented at 14540 West Railroad Street, Raymond, Nebraska on or about May 4, 2017 when the employer had an employee enter grain Bin Nine.  The employer is failing to conduct training with employees who perform grain bin storage entry on the avoidance of engulfment and mechanical hazards.     Farmers Cooperative was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.272(e)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 863704, citation number 1, item number 9 and was affirmed as a final order on December 18, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 122 N. Main St., Talmadge, NE 68448.