OSHA Inspection: THE ANDERSONS, INC.

Issued

Jan 10, 2020

Abate by

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $13,260

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) The Andersons, Inc. located at 125 Edwin Road in Toledo, Ohio; On or about July 17, 18, and 19, 2019 the employer did not ensure employees were protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet above a lower level by a cover or guardrail system. Employees entering Tank #485, a flat bottom grain storage structure, were exposed to a fall of approximately four feet through exit gates located on the floor of the tank.

Issued

Jan 10, 2020

Abate by

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $13,260

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) The Andersons, Inc. located at 125 Edwin Road in Toledo, Ohio; On or about July 17, 18, and 19, 2019 the employer did not develop and implement an emergency action plan as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38. Employees were exposed to entrapment and engulfment hazards in that the company's emergency action plan did not identify the procedures to be taken to be taken in the event of a grain entrapment or engulfment.

Issued

Jan 10, 2020

Abate by

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $132,598 · Current $132,598

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(h)(2)(i): Whenever an employee walked or stood on or in stored grain or grain products of a depth with posed an engulfment hazard, all equipment which presented a danger to that employee (such as an auger or other grain transport equipment) was not deenergized, and disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:  a) The Andersons, Inc. located at 125 Edwin Road in Toledo, Ohio; On or about July 17, 18, and 19, 2019 the employer did not ensure all grain moving equipment was de-energized and disconnected, locked-out, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods. Employees entering the flat bottom grain storage tank #485 to clear hardened clumps of grain around exit gate #486 were exposed to entrapment and engulfment hazards, in that all electrical and hydraulic energy sources such as, but not limited to,  the infeed basket valve, hydraulic exit gates, and the underground conveyor, were not effectively locked out and prevented from operating.

Issued

Jan 10, 2020

Abate by

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $132,598 · Current $132,598

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(h)(3): No employee shall be permitted to be either underneath a bridging condition, or in any other location where an accumulation of grain on the sides or elsewhere could fall and engulf that employee.  a) The Andersons, Inc. located at 125 Edwin Road in Toledo, Ohio; On or about July 17, 18, and 19, 2019 the employer did not prohibit employees from entering flat bottom grain storage tanks where the accumulation of grain on the sides of the tank could fall and engulf the entrants. Employees who entered tank #485 were exposed to entrapment and engulfment hazards in that the heel of the grain was at a height of approximately thirty feet.