OSHA Inspection: MAPLEHURST FARMS, INC.

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $13,494

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces.  (a) East grain bucket elevator's vertical fixed ladder and the distributor platform - on or about January 9, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that safe means of access and egress were provided from the ladder to the platform. Employees side-stepping from the ladder, through the cage opening, and taking diagonal step across open air space to get onto the platform were exposed to fall hazards up to 100 feet likely to result in death or serious injury.   (b) East, grain bin No. 10, roof stairs and drag conveyor's catwalk - on or about January 9, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that safe means of access and egress were provided from the top end of the roof stairs at the peak to the overhead drag conveyor's catwalk. Employees climbing the support elements of the drag conveyor's catwalk and going over the guardrails to get on the catwalk above were exposed to 85 foot fall hazards likely to result in death or serious injury.  (c) West grain bin No. 1 (bin chart section U, bin No. 2), roof walking area from the drag conveyor catwalk's north vertical fixed ladder to the southeast "45 degree" roof ladder leading to the inspection hole - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that safe means of access and egress were provided from the catwalk's roof access ladder to the inspection hole access ladder. Employees going to the inspection hole to take grain bin inventory measurements were exposed to 70 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.  (d) West grain bin No. 2 (bin chart section U, bin No. 1), drag conveyors' upper east and lower west catwalks - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to provide safe means of access and egress from the upper catwalk to the lower catwalk. Employees had to climb from the fixed ladder onto the horizontal drag conveyor's enclosure and then get down to the lower catwalk. Employees getting off/on the enclosure were exposed to fall hazards likely to result in death or serious injury.  Abatement documentation is required for these items in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $6,140 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): The employer must ensure walking-working surfaces are inspected, regularly and as necessary, and maintained in a safe condition;  Lindenwood grain handling facility - on or about April 7, 2020 the employer failed to regularly inspect and maintain walking-working surfaces in safe conditions. Employees were exposed to fall hazards such as, but not limited to, unsafe access and egress to and from surfaces, missing or incomplete guardrails, and floor openings, likely to result in death or serious injury.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $13,494

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(7): The employer did not ensure that grab bars extend 42 inches (1.1 m) above the access level or landing platforms served by the ladder;  (a) Lindenwood, East grain bucket elevator, top platform and the upper end of the vertical fixed ladder: on or about January 9, 2020, employee(s) performing work at the head section of the leg were exposed to fall hazards up to 100 feet likely to result in death or serious injury when climbing from the ladder onto the platform and then leaving the platform to get onto the ladder because grab bars were not provided for safe transition.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).    (b) Lindenwood, East overhead loadout bins No. 8 and No. 9, platform in-between the bins and the upper end of vertical fixed ladder running from the ground: on or about April 1, 2020, employee(s) using subject ladder to access a runway above were exposed to fall hazards up to 14 feet likely to result in death or serious injury when climbing from the ladder onto the runway and then leaving the runway to get onto the ladder because grab bars were not provided for safe transition.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(g)(2): The employer must ensure cages and wells are continuous throughout the length of the fixed ladder, except for access, egress, and other transfer points;  Lindenwood, East grain bucket elevator's vertical fixed ladder cage - on or about April 7, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that cage sections were continuously joined throughout the length of the fixed ladder and had all vertical members in place to ensure intended containment in the event of a fall. Employees ascending/descending on a fixed ladder were exposed to fall hazards up to 100 feet likely to result in death or serious injury.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $11,089 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(5)(i): (i) The employer must ensure each employee on a runway or similar walkway is protected from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level by a guardrail system.    East overhead loadout bins No. 8 and No. 9, roof inspection holes' platform: on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that a guardrail system was erected on the north side of the platform. Employees walking on the platform to take bin inventory measurements were exposed to 23 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11)(ii): (ii) Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers was not equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as follows: (see TABLE D-2)  East, grain bin No. 10, roof stairs - on or about January 9, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that a top rail/handrail was installed at the top end section on the south side of the stair rail system. Employees walking up the stairs to climb structures to get on the catwalk above were exposed to 85 foot fall hazards likely to result in death or serious injury.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(c):  Protection from falling objects.  When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the employer must ensure that each employee wears head protection that meets the requirements of subpart I of this part. In addition, the employer must protect employees from falling objects by implementing one or more of the following:  29 CFR 1910.28(c)(1): The employer must protect employees from falling objects by erecting toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling to a lower level;  Lindenwood, East grain bucket elevator's distributor platform - on or about January 9, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that toeboards, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the top rail and the platform to prevent hand tools and other objects from falling about 100 feet to the ground. Employees working at the ground when the distributor was being unplugged above were exposed to falling object struck-by hazard likely to result in serious injury.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b):  Guardrail systems. The employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements:  29 CFR 1910.29(b)(14): Guardrail systems meet the following requirements (14) Guardrail systems on ramps and runways are installed along each unprotected side or edge.  Lindenwood East grain bucket elevator and East overhead loadout bins, horizontal access runway: on or about April 7, 2020, employees walking on and working from the runway were exposed to fall hazards over 4 feet likely to result in serious injury from stepping into and falling through the space where North guardrails were not installed at the unprotected North edge of the walkway.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) East grain bucket elevator's distributor platform - on or about January 9, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that midrails, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the top rail and the platform. Employees working on the platform to unplug the distributor were exposed to 100 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   (b) East overhead loadout bins No. 8 and No. 9, roof inspection holes' platform, single south handrail - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that midrails, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the top rail and the platform. Employees walking on the platform to take bin inventory measurements were exposed to 23 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   (c) East overhead loadout bins No. 8 and No. 9, elevated south-to-north access walkway between the fixed ladders running from the ground and to the top - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that midrails, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the east and west top rails and the platform. Employees walking on the platform to reach top or ground fixed ladders were exposed to 14 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   (d) East grain bin No. 5, roof inspection hole - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that midrails, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the east top rail and the edge of the bin's roof. Employees reaching the inspection hole to take bin inventory measurement were exposed to 65 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   (e) West grain bin No. 2 (bin chart section U, bin No. 1), roof inspection hole - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that a west midrail was installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the edge of the bin's roof. Employees reaching the inspection hole to take bin inventory measurement were exposed to 70 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   (f) West grain bin No. 3 (bin chart section U, bin No. 6), roof inspection hole - on or about April 1, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that midrails, screens, or other guardrail systems were erected between the southeast top rail and the edge of the bin's roof. Employees reaching the inspection hole to take bin inventory measurement were exposed to 80 foot fall hazard likely to result in death or serious injury.   Abatement documentation is required for these item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $6,140 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i): (3) Holes.  The employer must ensure: (i) Each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following:  Covers per 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)(A);   Guardrail systems per 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)(B);    Travel restraint systems per 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)(C); or Personal fall arrest systems per 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i)(D).  Lindenwood East grain bucket elevator, horizontal access runway to fixed ladder: on or about April 7, 2020, employees were exposed to fall hazards over 4 feet likely to result in serious injury from stepping into or through a floor opening when getting on/off the fixed ladder at the end of the runway because floor cover(s) or other fall protection/prevention systems were not provided.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): (iv) Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used;  Lindenwood, East grain bucket elevator's head (top platform) and the upper end of the vertical fixed ladder: on or about January 9, 2020, employee(s) performing work at the head section of the leg were exposed to fall hazards up to 100 feet likely to result in death or serious injury because the ladderway's platform/floor hole was not protected against inadvertently stepping into it by guardrails with a self-closing gate or an offset.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 1, 2020

Abate by

Aug 10, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $6,140 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.30(a)(3): (3) The employer must train each employee in at least the following topics:    -- The nature of the fall hazards in the work area and how to recognize them [per 29 CFR 910.30(a)(3)(i)]; - The procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards [per 29 CFR 1910.30(a)(3)(ii)]; - The correct procedures for installing, inspecting, operating, maintaining, and disassembling the personal fall protection systems that the employee uses [per 29 CFR 1910.30(a)(3)(iii)]; and - The correct use of personal fall protection systems and equipment specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, including, but not limited to, proper hook-up, anchoring, and tie-off techniques, and methods of equipment inspection and storage, as specified by the manufacturer [per 29 CFR1910.30(a)(3)(iv)].  On or about April 7, 2020, the employer failed to ensure that each of the segments of the fall protection training it provided to employees were presented by a qualified person with sufficient knowledge of workplace-specific fall hazards (for requirements listed above) and feasible prevention/protection methods for those areas and tasks the personnel was expected to work at and perform. Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).