OSHA Inspection: NUTRAFERMA, INC.

Issued

2017-10-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2463.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    (a)Nutraferma, Inc. at 501 South Flynn, North Sioux City, SD 57049:  On and prior to August 24, 2017 the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the ingoing nip point related to the gear and roller mechanism (drive sprocket) on the agitator truck located in Fermenter B. Employees have to access the area to clean, take temperature readings, and observe hose placement related to the agitator truck. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of caught-in by the drive sprocket.

Issued

2017-10-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2463.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.      (a)Nutraferma, Inc. at 501 South Flynn, North Sioux City, SD 57049:  On and prior to August 24, 2017, the employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative. An employee had a parital amputation of his heel while conducting maintenance activities in the Fermenter B room, specifically on the Agitator Truck, and was caught-by the ingoing nip point associated with the tracked gear. This condition exposed employees to struck-by and caught-in-between hazards related to performing maintenance activities in Fermenter B room.        Abatement Note:  As part of an energy-control program, employers must:       (1)        Establish energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected re-energization.  When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially re-accumulated energy.       (2)        Train employees on the energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and       (3)        Inspect these procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.       The energy-control procedures must outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance.  These procedures must provide employees at least the following information:       (1)        A statement on how to use the procedures;       (2)        Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines;       (3)        Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices and identifying who has responsibility for the lockout/tagout devices; and       (4)        Specific requirements for testing machines to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy-control measures.