OSHA Inspection: RED RIVER COMMODITIES, INC.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,436 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to caught in hazards from the rotating motor shafts powering the conveyers while working near the south boot pit entrance at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i):Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to caught in hazards from the RPM sensor  shafts on the elevating legs while working in the boot pit at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,728 · Current $9,000 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) On or about August 25, 2020 and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards where a flexible extension cord was secured in place with zip ties and regularly used to power sump pumps in the boot pit at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(c)(2)(i): Equipment in hazardous (classified) location(s) was not approved for the class of location:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020 and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards where a modified general service electrical cord was connected to a hazard classified location receptacle and plugged in to operate sump pumps in the boot pit at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $105,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer failed to test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized to begin:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to potential health hazards when entering the boot pit for cleaning and maintenance activities.  Testing to ensure acceptable entry conditions was not performed prior to entry into the boot pit containing spilled product and wet areas at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.   Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 1323393, Citation 1, Item 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on July 25, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 501 42nd Street NW, Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(6): The employer did not provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry was authorized for the duration of entry operations:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to potential health and physical hazards where the boot pit was entered for maintenance activities and to clean up spilled product and combustible dust.  An attendant was not stationed outside the boot pit to monitor conditions within the space and provide assistance when needed at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:  (a) On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to potential health and physical hazards where the boot pit was entered for cleaning and maintenance activities.  Safety measures were not implemented, performed, or verified through the completion of an entry permit at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.  Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 1323393, Citation 1, Item 1c, and was affirmed as a final order on July 25, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 501 42nd Street NW, Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $105,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees entered the bins, silos, or tanks:  (a) On or about August 20, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to potential health and physical hazards where bin T11 was entered for cleaning.  Safety measures were not implemented, performed, or verified through the completion of an entry permit at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to bin entry, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presented a danger to employees inside grain storage structures in the grain handling facility were not disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:  (a) On or about August 20, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while cleaning out a grain bin where the sweep auger and takeout auger were in operation. One employee suffered a leg amputation when he slipped on the grain and fell into the take out auger in bin T11 at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(g)(1)(iii): The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank in the grain handling facility was not tested for the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry:  (a) On or about August 20, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were exposed to potential health hazards when entering bin T11 to clean out crusted sunflower seeds that had been along the bottom of the bin for approximately one year.  Testing to ensure acceptable entry conditions was not performed prior to entry at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(g)(3): In the grain handling facility an observer, equipped to provide assistance, was not stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee:  (a) On or about August 20, 2020, and at times prior to that date, employees were cleaning out grain inside bin T11 when one employee had his leg enter the operating take out auger resulting in an amputation.  An attendant was not stationed outside the bin to assist in hazard identification and summon rescue services at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,731 · Current $400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(e)(1): The employer did not provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job assignments would expose them to new hazards in the grain handling facilities:  (a)	On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, the employer failed to train employees in the recognition of hazards, or methods to control hazards associated with grain handling such as, but not limited to, accumulations of combustible grain dust and ignition sources in hazard classified locations, at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.  Note:  This company was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection Number 1323393, Citation 2, Item 2, and was affirmed as a final order on July 25, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 501 42nd Street NW, Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,205 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(g)(3): The employer did not provide training that established employee proficiency in the duties required by 29 CFR 1910.146, permit-required confined spaces, and did not introduce new or revised procedures, as necessary, for compliance:  (a)	On or about August 25, 2020, and at times prior to that date, the employer failed to train employees in the safe entry procedures associated with permit-required confined spaces, where the boot pit was entered for cleaning and maintenance activities without implementing necessary elements of permit space entry such as, but not limited to, entry permit, atmospheric testing, and an attendant, at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.

Issued

Feb 12, 2021

Abate by

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,205 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(e)(2): Employees assigned special tasks in the grain handling facility, such as bin entry and handling of flammable or toxic substances, were not provided training to perform these tasks safety:  (a)	On or about August 20, 2020, and at times prior to that date, the employer failed to train employees assigned to enter grain storage bins for cleaning and maintenance where bins were entered without implementing safe bin entry procedures, at 340 40th Street NW in Fargo, North Dakota.