OSHA Inspection: HEARTLAND COOPERATIVE SERVICES

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Apr 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $10,795 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 in that employees were exposed to engulfment hazards:    (a) Bulk feed intake area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; On September 19, 2019, two employees were exposed to engulfment hazards while working from atop the sidewalls of a Timpte brand hopper bottom trailer during the unloading process. While sitting on top of the trailer sidewall and poking at the bridged corn gluten feed product with long poles, one of the employees was fatally engulfed after falling into the trailer.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(11): The employer did not ensure that portable ladders used to gain access to an upper landing surface had side rails that extended at least 3 feet (0.9 m) above the upper landing surface:    (a) Bulk feed intake area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A portable ladder used to access the mixer platform from the intake bay did not extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,711 · Current $0 Reduced

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) Bulk feed intake and loading area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A guardrail system or other means of fall protection was not provided for unprotected sides of an elevated platform located on the backside of the south mixer.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Apr 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,711 · Current $4,626 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(g)(1): Cages and wells installed on fixed ladders were not designed, constructed, and maintained according to Figures D-14 and D-15 of this section to permit easy access to, and egress from, the ladder they enclose:    (a) Rooftop access ladder on north side of mill at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; The bottom edge of a cage installed around a fixed ladder was installed more than 8 feet above the lower access level.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $5,784 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) 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) Mineral mixing area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A power transmission pulley on the small mixer (mini-mixer) was not guarded.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:  (a) Mineral mixing area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A power transmission belt on the small mixer (mini-mixer) was not guarded.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Bulk feed intake and loading area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A power transmission chain on the backside of the south mixer was not enclosed.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Apr 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $3,470 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:    (a) Grain drying area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; The grain dryer lockout procedure did not identify liquid propane gas as an energy source and did not identify that the ball valve for liquid propane gas needed to be locked out in the off position during repair, servicing, and/or adjusting activities.    (b) Grain drying area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; On or about the week of September 9, 2019, the employer did not ensure that lockout devices were affixed to the isolation point (ball valve) for liquid propane gas during grain dryer servicing activities of preventative maintenance and cleaning.    (c) Grain drying area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; On or about the week of September 9, 2019, the employer did not ensure that each authorized employee performing servicing activities of preventative maintenance and cleaning on the grain dryer followed the lockout procedure by affixing their own lockout lock.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $3,470 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:    (a) Bulk feed intake and loading area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; A triple outlet style extension cord was used as a substitute for fixed wiring to provide electrical energy to a fat heating unit and monitor/metering scale.

Issued

Mar 4, 2020

Abate by

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles located within 8 feet of the floor had live parts exposed to employee contact:  (a) Bulk feed intake and loading area at Sheldon, WI location of Heartland Cooperative Services; Energized parts of an electrical receptacle were exposed due to physical damage around slot openings for plugs.