OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN WALNUT COMPANY LLC

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,691 · Current $2,846 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.    The employer is failing to protect employees from electrical hazards from a damaged hoist pendant control. This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at the American Walnut Company, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The CM Valustar 2 Ton Hoist in the Northeast Section of the Circle Mill, also known as the Log Deck, had a damaged pendant control.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to:    a) Repair or replace the pendant control as required by ASME B30.17-2015- Cranes and Monorails (With Underhung Trolley or Bridge), Section 17-1.14.1(e) and 17-1.14.2 to ensure that pendant controls are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition.    b) Perform frequent and periodic inspections as required by ASME B30.17-2015 - Cranes and Monorails (With Underhung Trolley or Bridge),  Section 17-2.1.4 and 17-2.1.5 to ensure that the hoists and pendant controls are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $8,536 · Current $4,268 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)(A): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface was protected from falling into any hole or pit that was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by a cover or covers:    The employer is failing to protect employees from fall into hazards. This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri.     (a) The employer did not provide a cover for a floor hole opening measuring approximately 22.5 inches long and 5 inches wide. The hole is located at the top of the ladder on the northwest section of the Hog platform.      (b) The employer did not provide a cover for a floor hole opening measuring 9.5 inches wide by 26 inches long. The hole is located in the Circle Mill adjacent to the log deck.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(ii)(A): Employees  4 feet (1.2m) or more above dangerous equipment were not protected from falling by: (A) a Guardrail system.      The employer is failing to protect employees from fall hazards while moving, aligning, and adjusting logs. This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The employer did not provide a guardrail system for a hole measuring approximately 29 inches long, by 24 inches wide and more than 6 feet deep. The hole is located adjacent to the chain conveyor at the Log Deck inside the Circle Mill.  Inside this hole is a log lift and another moving chain conveyor that moves log debris to other parts of the facility.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(4)(iv): Elevated walk(s) and runway(s), more than 6 feet or more from floor level, were not provided with both a standard railing and a toe board:    The employer is failing to protect employees from fall and struck-by hazards.  This was most recently documented on or about March 13, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri.  The employer did not provide a standard railing and toe board at the first landing when exiting the ladder on the northwest section of the Hog adjacent to the north end of the top chain conveyor system. Employees were exposed to falls of approximately 16 feet to ground from the hog deck, and struck by hazards such as falling materials and tools while working underneath the hog deck platform.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $9,959

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).    The employer did not have a written Job Hazard Assessment of the tasks related to the operation of equipment associated with the Hog

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $4,980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    The employer is failing to protect employees from stored or residual energy sources such as electrical and mechanical hazards while performing servicing or maintenance to the Hog.  This was most recently documented on or about March 13, 2018, at American Walnut, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The employer did not provide machine specific lockout/tagout procedures to be used by employees to prevent the unexpected energization, start up  or release of stored energy for the Hog.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $4,980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(4)(v): (v) Elevated platforms. Where elevated platforms are used routinely on a daily basis, they were not equipped with stairways or fixed ladders that comply with 29 CFR part 1910, subpart D.    The employer is failing to protect employees from a fall hazard.  This was most recently documented on or about March 13, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC, located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The employer did not ensure the fixed metal ladder used to access the Hog platform had a minimum perpendicular distance of 7 inches from the top 2 ladder rungs to the steel platform structure.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,114 · Current $3,557 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Openings through which conductors entered cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:     The employer is failing to protect employees from electrical and fire hazards while operating the bandsaw and/or performing housekeeping tasks near and around the bandsaw. This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri.        (a) There was a fitting that was not effectively closed in a junction box at the left side of  Bandsaw #1 near the floor in the Gun Room.       (b) There was an open knockout that was not effectively closed in a junction box at the left side of Bandsaw #1 near the floor in the Gun Room.

Issued

Sep 6, 2018

Abate by

Aug 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $35,570 · Current $12,934 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:     (a) The employer is failing to protect employees from amputation hazards while performing grading work. This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri. The chain and sprocket driving the scrap conveyor adjacent to the Grader Station in the Gun Room, located approximately 4.5 feet from the floor was inadequately guarded exposing employees to in-running nip points of the chain and sprocket.       (b) The employer is failing to protect employees from amputation hazards while operating the Band Saw and performing housekeeping tasks near and around Band Saw.  This was most recently documented on or about April 12, 2018, at American Walnut Company, LLC at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, Missouri.  The chain and sprocket located approximately 2 feet from the floor underneath the scrap conveyor adjacent Band Saw # 1 inside the Gun Room was not guarded.       The American Walnut Company, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 1910.219(f)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1204270, citation number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on June 2, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 2801 South 2nd Street, Saint Joseph, MO.