OSHA Inspection: COFCO INTERNATIONAL GRAINS US LLC

Issued

Jan 27, 2020

Abate by

Mar 2, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $13,494

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 July 31, 2019, the employer did not assess the occupational exposures of bin floor operators to particulates not otherwise regulated, total dust, during various job activities, such as grain unloading, cargo boat loading, or housekeeping activities. As a result, employees were put at risk of contact with respiratory hazards.    (b) On or about July 31, 2019, the employer did not assess the occupational exposures of bin floor operators to particulates not otherwise regulated, respirable fraction, during various job activities, such as grain unloading, cargo boat loading, or housekeeping activities. As a result, employees were put at risk of contact with respiratory hazards.    (c) On or about July 31, 2019, the employer did not assess the occupational exposures of bin floor operators to grain dust during various job activities, such as grain unloading, cargo boat loading, or housekeeping activities. As a result, employees were put at risk of contact with respiratory hazards.    (d) On or about July 31, 2019, the employer did not assess the occupational exposures of bin floor operators to phosphine after fumigant pesticide treatment. As a result, employees were put at risk of contact with respiratory hazards.

Issued

Jan 27, 2020

Abate by

Apr 29, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of particulates not otherwise regulated, total dust, listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the permissible exposure limits as 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 15 milligrams per cubic meter of air.    (a) On November 15, 2019, the laborer cleaning dust and "cobwebs" from the ceiling and chutes of the Old House Grain Bin Floor as part of his housekeeping duties was exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated, total dust, at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 19.064 milligrams per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.3 times the limit of 15 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  The sample was collected on November 15, 2019 during a 443 minute sampling period with zero exposure included for the 37 minutes not sampled in the 8-hour period.

Issued

Jan 27, 2020

Abate by

Apr 29, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $9,385

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    (a) On November 15, 2019, the laborer cleaning dust and "cobwebs" from the ceiling and chutes of the Old House Grain Bin Floor as part of his housekeeping duties was exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated, total dust, at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 19.064 milligrams per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.3 times the limit of 15 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  The sample was collected on November 15, 2019 during a 443 minute sampling period with zero exposure included for the 37 minutes not sampled in the 8-hour period.

Issued

Jan 27, 2020

Abate by

Feb 4, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,361 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)    (a) On and before November 15, 2019, employees exposed to grain dust, particulates not otherwise regulated, and phosphine, did not have Safety Data Sheets available to them during each work shift while they were in their work areas. The SDS/MSDS binder for the site were stored in the superintendent's office, distant from the bin floors, and kept locked at times. Additionally, the employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required GHS compliant safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical. This included maintaining outdated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) onsite in the Hazard Communication binder.

Issued

Jan 27, 2020

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,121 · Current $2,121

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.4(a): The employer did not record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case that resulted in the general recording criteria on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.   (a) On or about August 14, 2019, and on dates prior, the employer did not record the fatality of an employee on July 31, 2019, due to an exacerbation of asthma symptoms by exposures to dust while working on the Old House Grain Bin Floor of the workplace at 960 E. Bay St., Milwaukee, WI 53207, on the OSHA Form 300 for 2019.