OSHA Inspection: WHB CATTLE, LP

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $4,600 Reduced

Hazardous substances M102

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to combustible dust fire, deflagration, and explosion hazards:         a.  On or about June 1, 2017 and at times prior in the feed mill, combustible dust accumulations were not promptly cleaned from elevated surfaces including but not limited to the top surfaces of conveyors and augers, the scales platform, and an interior roof and exposes employees to fire and explosion hazards.         b.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior in the feed mill, at bin 3, a hand held electric powered grinder was used to cut an opening in bin 3 containing ground soy beans and exposes employees to fire and explosion hazards.           c. On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior in the feed mill, the top of a conveyor for the roaster, the top of the south Morhlang conveyor, and bin 3 auger were not totally enclosed to prevent dust emissions and exposes employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Jan 15, 2018

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $4,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards, fire hazards, and falls hazards at elevated work platforms that lacked adequate means of egress:     a.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior at the feed mill, the work platforms including but not limited to the platform between bin 3 and the scales was reduced to less than 22 inches in width where machine parts protruded into the walkway.  Employees at the platform were not provided with adequate egress for emergencies.     b.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior at the feed mill, adequate illumination was not provided for the work platform between bin 3 and the scales where employees climb a fixed ladder to access the work platform.  Employees were not provided with adequate egress for emergencies.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,157 · Current $3,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to be causing death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to electrical hazards:       a.  On or about June 2, 2017, electrical room of feed mill, a circuit breaker panel was missing part of a cover and was not dead front.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards when working at or near the energized circuit breaker panel.            b.  On or about June 2, 2017, electrical room of feed mill, an electrical box with energized wires did not have a cover.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards when working at or near the electrical box.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $7,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fall hazards:       a.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior at a feed mill platform between bin 3 and the scales, a ladderway was not guarded to prevent employees from directly walking into the ladderway and exposes employees to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level.              b.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior at bin 3 of the feed mill, the employer was not requiring or enforcing the use of fall protection when employees walked or worked at the top surfaces of a conveyor and an auger.  Employees were exposed to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level or to an auger.            c.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior at the north Morhlang pit of the feed mill, part of the guard railing was missing and employees were exposed to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $7,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57 (a)(6)(v):  At the time of initial assignment and annually thereafter, the employer did not instruct every employee in the safe operation and servicing of all covered equipment with which he is or will be involved, including to lock out electrical power before performing maintenance or service on farmstead equipment:      a.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior to, at the feed mill, employees did not receive annual training on lock out of electrical power before performing maintenance or service on farmstead equipment including but not limited to auger motors and employees were exposed to machine hazards.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(a)(11): Where a moving machinery part presented a hazard during servicing or maintenance, the engine was not stopped, the power source was not disconnected, and all machine movement was not stopped before servicing or maintenance was performed, except where the Employer could establish the following in 1928.57(a)(11)(i-iii):     a.  On or about June 1, 2017, at the feed mill, bin 3 auger motor was not disconnected from its power source prior to employees working at bin 3 where the auger was uncovered and exposes feed mill employees to machine hazards.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(5)(i): Application of electrical power from a location not under the immediate and exclusive control of the employee or employees maintaining or servicing equipment was not prevented by (A) - (B):    a.  On or about June 1, 2017, and at times prior to, at the feed mill, locks on electrical disconnect for bin 3 auger motor that could only be operated by the employees who were working to clear the bin of packed material, were not installed.  Employees were exposed to machine hazards during servicing and maintenance of feed mill equipment including but not limited to augers.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $4,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(2)(i): The mesh or nip-points of all power driven gears, belts, chains, sheaves, pulleys, sprockets and idlers were not guarded:       a.  On or about June 1, 2017, at the feed mill, belts and pulleys for an operating seed shaker were not guarded.  Employees were exposed to amputation hazards from unguarded belts and pulleys at the seed shaker.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(3)(i): Functional components, such as choppers, rotary beaters, mixing augers, feed rolls, conveying augers, grain spreaders, stirring augers, sweep augers, and feed augers, which must be exposed for proper function, were not guarded to the fullest extent which will not substantially interfere with the normal functioning of the component:    a.  On or about June 6, 2017, at the slab area of the feed mill, there was no guarding at an open side of the north Morhlang conveyor loading area where rotating shafts with paddles exposed feed mill employees to machine hazards.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

Dec 19, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $7,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1928.57(c)(4)(i): Guards, shields, and access doors were not in place when the equipment was in operation.          a.  On or about June 1, 2017, at the feed mill, a cover was not replaced on bin 3 auger before bin 3 auger was operated and exposed feed mill employees at bin 3 to amputation hazards.          b.  On or about June 1, 2017, at the feed mill, a wheel guard was not installed on a hand grinder used by an employee to cut into a wall of  bin 3 and exposed the employee to machine hazards.