OSHA Inspection: SEXAUER DISCOUNT FARM SERVICES, INC.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2772.00 · Current $1386.00 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:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to  November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from struck-by and fall hazards while using the hand operated man-lift located within the grain elevator/seed plant. Employees used the hand powered man-lift to gain access to upper levels of the elevator. The man-lift had not been inspected as well as having the main hoist rope frayed. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards and struck-by hazards.          (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from struck-by and fall hazards while using a freight elevator located in the warehouse area. Employees used the freight elevator to gain access to upper levels of the warehouse area. The elevator had not been inspected. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards and struck-by hazards.    Abatement Note: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard A17.1-2010, "Handbook on Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. Section 8.11.1.1.1 states, periodic inspections shall be made by an inspector employed by the authority having jurisdiction or by a person authorized by the authority having jurisdiction.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2772.00 · Current $1386.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): Walking-working surfaces were not inspected regularly and as necessary, or maintained in a safe condition:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from tripping hazards due to floor holes approximately 8 inches x 8 inches in the tote loading area.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system:   (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while working near the third and fourth floor man-lift access floor openings in the grain elevator/seed plant that was not protected by a gate or other acceptable means. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of approximately three to four stories.  (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while working on the roof adjacent to the seed plant while cleaning seed debris off the truck unloading area. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of approximately 15 feet.  (c)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006: On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while working on the elevated platform connected to the hopper in the Quonset area. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of approximately 5 feet 4 inches.  (d)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while working from an elevated platform on the fourth floor of the grain elevator/seed plant.  Employees were walking on 2x6 boards to gain access to the top of the main leg. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of approximately 10 feet 6 inches.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure each employee was protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by covers, guardrails, travel restraint systems or personnel fall arrest systems:  (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006: On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards through floor holes approximately 6 inches wide due to broken floor boards on the 5th floor of the elevator near leg one.  This condition exposed employees to a fall hazards.  (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006: On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from tripping/step through hazards through floor holes approximately 4 inches x 4 inches due to broken floor boards located in the warehouse floor of the pallet storage area.   (c)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards through floor holes approximately 18 inches x 18 inches near the clipper machine in the annex area due to a missing cover. This condition exposed employees to a fall hazard to the lower storage area approximately 1 to 8 feet.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members were not installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high:  (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006: On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fall hazards while accessing the platform of the seed plant near the main leg in that, no midrail was installed in the guardrail system to prevent employees from falling. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards of approximately 10 feet 6 inches.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2772.00 · Current $1386.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces:     (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces at the facility.  The employer did not evaluate the boot pit located under the main leg in the grain receiving area. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards and IDLH conditions.      Abatement Note:  "Confined space" means a space that:       (1)Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and       (2)Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and       (3)Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.       Abatement Note: If it is determined that employees will not enter permit spaces, the employer shall take effective measures to prevent its employees from entering the permit spaces and shall comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(6), and (c)(8).       Abatement Note: If it is determined that employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with 29 CFR 1910.146. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.     Abatement Note: Proper application of the decision flow chart in Appendix A to section 1910.146 would facilitate compliance with this requirement.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:       (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not inform exposed employees by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in the grain receiving area located underneath the main leg of the facility. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards and IDLH conditions.      Abatement Note:  A sign reading "DANGER-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER" or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1663.00 · Current $832.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006: On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the right belt used to pull the seed bag into the sewing mechanism on the Fischbein bag closer, model D4380 was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between and struck-by hazards related to being pulled into the sewing mechanism.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $1940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulleys with parts seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at time prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the secondary auger used while cleaning grain from the bins # 8 and 10 bins was guarded. This condition exposed employees to ingoing nip points.    (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley system on the Shaker machine were guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    (c)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the dust collection drive was effectively guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    (d)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the Schwartz machine in the Quonset area was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    (e)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley system on the bottom of the Mohrlang Feeder in the Quonset area was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    (f)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc., at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley system on the drive mechanism near the main leg boot pit entrance was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains on the shaker machine on the mill floor were effectively guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between and amputation hazards.  (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains on the Mohrlang Mixer Feeder in the Quonset area were effectively guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between and amputation hazards.  (c)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains on a drive near the main leg, boot pit entrance within the grain receiving area were effectively guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between and amputation hazards.  (d)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains on a drive mechanism on the upper floor of the mill were effectively guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in-between and amputation hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $1940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(d): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency action plan meeting the requirements contained in 1910.38(a):     (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South and 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not develop or implement and emergency action plan for employees in the event of a fire or other emergency within the facility.     Abatement Note:  The Emergency Action Plan shall include:       (1)        Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments;       (2)        Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;       (3)        Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;       (4)        Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them;       (5)        The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and       (6)        Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.       The employer shall:       (1)        Establish an alarm system that complies with 29 CFR 1910.165;       (2)        Before implementing the emergency action plan, the employer shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.       (3)        The employer shall review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. The written plan shall be kept at the workplace and made available for employee review. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally to employees and the employer need not maintain a written plan.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1): The employer did not provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job assignments would expose them to new hazards in the grain handling facilities:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 413 1st Street south and 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were properly trained to recognize the hazards associated with the operations within the grain handling facility. This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.    Abatement Note: Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work, shall be trained in at least the following:    (i)  General safety precautions associated with the facility, including recognition and preventive measures for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources such as smoking; and,    (ii)  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.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $1940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks unless the employer or the employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation. The permit shall certify that the precautions contained in this paragraph (1910.272(g)) have been implemented prior to employees entering bins, silos or tanks. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the entry operations.    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from bin entry hazards when entering bins 8 and 10 to clean and remove grain. The employer did not issue permits in addressing bin entry procedures and requirements. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $1940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the methods determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed areas:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 413 1st Street South and 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not develop a housekeeping program to control and reduce the amount of grain dust within the facilities.  Numerous areas of accumulated dust were observed and in some areas within the facility, well over two inches of dust were documented throughout the grain elevator/seed plant and mill. This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(1)(i): Preventive maintenance procedures in the grain handling facility were not implemented to provide regularly scheduled inspections of the mechanical and safety control equipment associated with dryers, grain stream processing equipment, dust collection equipment including filter collectors, and bucket elevators:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the dust collection equipment was being maintained to include regular inspections to allow for proper operational effectiveness. This condition exposed employees to explosion hazards associated with excessive dust accumulation throughout the facility.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2772.00 · Current $1386.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(4): The employer did not implement procedures in the grain handling facility for the use of tags and locks which would prevent the inadvertent application of energy or motion to equipment being repaired, serviced, or adjusted, which could result in employee injury. Such locks and tags shall be removed in accordance with established procedures only by the employee installing them or, if unavailable, by his or her supervisor.    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not implement procedures in the facility  for equipment being repaired, serviced or adjusted. The employee was performing maintenance on the red shaker machine and the energy source was not locked and tagged out.  The employer did not incorporate the use of locks and tags while employees were working on equipment to control inadvertent application of energy or motion.  This condition exposed employees to expected start up of machinery causing caught-in-between and amputation hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $1940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electric equipment was not free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that an extension cord used to power a scale in the main floor bagging area was removed from service due to the outer sheathing being damaged which exposed the inner conductors.  This condition exposed employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.     (b)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that an extension cord used to power a re-locatable power tap in the main floor bagging area was removed from service due to the outer sheathing being damaged which exposed the inner conductors.  This condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazard and fire hazards.     (c)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that an extension cord used in the main floor bagging area was removed from service due to the outer sheathing being damaged which exposed the inner conductors.  This condition exposed employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.     (d) Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that a circular saw used in the warehouse area for cutting pallets was removed from service due to the outer sheathing being damaged which exposed the inner conductors.  This condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards and fire hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(c)(3)(i): All splices and joints and the free ends of the conductors were not covered with an insulation equivalent to that of the conductors or with an insulating device identified for the purpose.    (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that a plug-end segment of an extension cord which was spliced to an existing flexible cord that provided electrical power to a conveyer within the main floor of the mill was covered with an equivalent insulation. The two different sized conductors were spliced together and covered with ductile tape which was not equivalent to the existing insulation. This condition exposed employees to shock, electrocution and fire hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:   (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the flexible power cord to the trouble light that was being used during bin entries was connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws. Approximately one-inch of the inner conductors were exposed on the light. This condition exposed employees to fire, electrocution and fire hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 105 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that a junction box within the facility was effectively closed. A duplex junction box had a knockout plug absent creating an opening in the box. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

2018-03-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  (a)Sexauer Discount Farm Services, Inc. at 413 1st Street south, Brookings, SD 57006:  On or about and at times prior to November 16, 2017, the employer did not ensure that where respirators were not required, and where the employer permitted the voluntary use of dust masks, the employer did not provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard").