OSHA Inspection: HURDSFIELD GRAIN, INC.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-12-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5070.00 · Current $652.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(ii): The employer did not ensure each employee is protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems:     (a) On or about November 2, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to trip and/or caught-in hazards while conducting grain bin cleaning activities with the out-take auger in operation and the approximate 12 inch by 12 inch floor sump hole uncovered at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2173.00 · Current $652.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:      (a) On or about November 2, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential respiratory hazards where the employer mandated the use of 3M, model no.8511N95 particulate respirators while conducting grain elevator work activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.     Abatement Note:       A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program shall include all of the following requirements:       1.  Written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators shall be established.       2.  Only approved respirators shall be used.  Respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed.       3.  Respirators must be provided free-of-charge where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.       4.  Employers must provide (free-of-charge) a medical evaluation to determine    each employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.       5.  Before initial respirator use, fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators where such respirators are required by OSHA or where the employer requires the use of such a respirator.       6.  The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations.       7.  Surveillance of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress shall be conducted.       8.  Employer must ensure the use of respirators where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.       9.  Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary condition.       10.  Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and contamination.       11.  Respirators shall be inspected during cleaning and repaired when necessary.       12.  There shall be regular inspection and evaluation to determine the continued effectiveness of the program.       13.  Compressed breathing air must meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air.       14.  The employer must establish and retain medical evaluations and fit-testing records.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-01-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $652.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer failed to test or adequately test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin:       (a) On or about August 25, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential health and/or physical hazards where the wood crib elevator boot pit was entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-01-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2173.00 · Current $652.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:      (a) On or about November 7, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards where a general service electrical extension cord was powering general service electrical heat tape and a sump pump in the wood crib elevator located at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to bin 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, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:       (a) On or about November 2, 2017, for the employee who sustained a serious injury while conducting cleaning activities in grain storage bin number 203 where the out-take auger was in operation at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.       (b) On or about November 2, 2017 and at time prior to that date, for the employees exposed to caught-in hazards while conducting cleaning activities in grain storage bin number 203 where the sweep auger was energized at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:      (a) On or about November 2, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential respiratory hazards with potential overexposure to grain dust while conducting grain elevator work activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-01-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:      (a) On or about August 25, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to potential health and/or physical hazards where the wood crib elevator boot pit was entered for cleaning and other maintenance activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

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) On or about November 2, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employee exposed to health and/or physical hazards where grain storage bin number 203 was entered for cleaning activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

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 the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:    (a) On or about November 2, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employee exposed to health and/or physical hazards where grain storage bin number 203 was entered for cleaning activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-01-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $652.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c)(2)(i): Equipment used in the hazardous (classified) location was not approved for the ignitable or combustible properties of the dust that was present:      (a) On or about November 7, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards where a general service electrical extension cord was powering general service electrical heat tape and a sump pump in the wood crib elevator located at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(ii): Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work in the grain handling facility were not trained in the specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, hot work procedures, preventive maintenance procedures and lock-out/tag-out procedures:       (a) On or about November 2, 2017, for the new employee performing grain handling work activities at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:    (a) On or about November 2, 2017, for the new employee who was serving as the observer for an entry into grain storage bin 203 at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.

Issued

2017-11-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3): The employer did not maintain a certification record of each preventive maintenance inspection performed, containing the date of the inspection, the name of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the equipment specified in paragraph (m)(1)(i) of this section:    (a) On or about November 7, 2017 and at times prior to that date, for the employees performing preventative maintenance on machines and equipment at 204 Elevator Road, Hurdsfield, North Dakota.