OSHA Inspection: DIDION MILLING, INC.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,728 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.137(c)(2)(viii):  Electrical protective equipment shall be subjected to periodic electrical tests. Test voltages and the maximum intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table I-4 and Table I-5 of 29 CFR 1910.137:  (a) On or about May 3, 2021, rubber insulating gloves used as electrical protective equipment when performing voltage testing up to 480 volt electrical circuitry had not been subjected to periodic electrical tests within the past six months in accordance with Table I-5.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,728 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B):  The energy control procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy:  (a) On or about March 1, 2021, the energy control procedures for bucket elevator legs did not specifically outline the steps for isolating, blocking, and securing the leg belt from movement due to gravity during the clearing of plugged elevator legs.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):  The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed:  a) On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not conducted a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually for bucket elevator legs to ensure the  procedures and the requirements of this standard were being followed.   b) On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not conducted a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually for the GSI grain dryer to ensure the  procedures and the requirements of this standard were being followed.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(2):  Employees assigned special tasks, such as bin entry and handling of flammable or toxic substances, shall be provided training to perform these tasks safely:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, the employer had not provided employees tasked with entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities with training on specific methods and procedures to safely perform silo cleaning tasks associated with out-of-condition or high foreign material grain conditions causing recognized engulfment hazards such as, but not limited to, grain shelving, grain columns, bridged or crusted grain, highly sloped grain, and deep grain.   (b)	On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not provided employees tasked with entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities with training on specific methods and procedures to safely perform silo cleaning tasks associated with out-of-condition or high foreign material grain conditions causing recognized engulfment hazards such as, but not limited to, grain shelving, grain columns, bridged or crusted grain, highly sloped grain, and deep grain.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(i):  The employer shall issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tasks unless the employer or the employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation.  The permit shall certify that the precautions contained in 29 CFR 1910.272(g) have been implemented prior to employees entering bins, silos, or tanks:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, the employer or the employer's representative did not issue the permit prior to employees entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities.    (b)	On or about December 4, 2020, the permit did not certify that the precautions contained in 29 CFR 1910.272(g) were implemented prior to employees entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities.  (c)	On or about December 8, 2020, the permit did not certify that the precautions contained in 29 CFR 1910.272(g) were implemented prior to employees entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities around 6:00 am.  (d)	On or about December 8, 2020, the employer or the employer's representative did not issue the permit prior to employees entering Silo 19 for cleaning activities around 7:00 am.   (e)	On or about December 8, 2020, the permit did not certify that the precautions contained in 29 CFR 1910.272(g) were implemented prior to employees entering Silo 19 for cleaning and inspection activities around 7:00 am.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii):  All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, the bottom discharge auger for Silo 19 was running while one of the entrants, having entered for cleaning and inspection activities, stood in a location in the silo capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iv):  "Walking down grain" and similar practices where an employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employees is on moving grain, are prohibited:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, one of the entrants inside Silo 19 was attempting to promote grain flow out of the bottom of the silo with the bottom discharge auger running and was standing in a location in the silo capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2):  Whenever an employee enters a grain storage structure from a level at or above the level of the stored grain or grain products, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer shall equip the employee with a body harness with lifeline, or a boatswain's chair that meets the requirements of subpart D of 29 CFR 1910.  The lifeline shall be so positioned, and of sufficient length, to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, one of the entrants inside Silo 19 was attempting to promote grain flow out of the bottom of the silo with the bottom discharge auger running and was standing in a location in the silo capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.  The harness and manually held horizontal lifeline system being utilized was not capable of preventing the entrant from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain.  (b)	On or about December 8, 2020, the RCPF Manager was inside Silo 19 attempting to promote grain flow out of the bottom the silo with the bottom discharge auger running and was standing in a location capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.  A harness and lifeline system or boatswain's chair was not utilized to prevent the entrant from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4):  The employer shall provide equipment for rescue operations which is specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, a non-entry rescue device, previously purchased by the employer and intended for non-entry rescue during entries into sloped bottom grain silos, was not put into service for an entry into Silo 19.  (b)	On or about December 8, 2020, a non-entry rescue device, previously purchased by the employer and intended for non-entry rescue during entries into sloped bottom grain silos, was not put into service for entries into Silo 19.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(6):  Employees shall not enter bins, silos, or tanks underneath a bridging condition, or where buildup of grain products on the sides could fall and bury them:  (a)	On or about December 4, 2020, one of the entrants, having entered for cleaning and inspection activities, stood in a location in the silo capable of resulting in engulfment from the buildup of grain products on the sides of the silo.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $156,259

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii):  All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:  The employer does not ensure that mechanical equipment, such as the bottom discharge augers' of bins and silos with sloped bottoms, are deenergized and prevented from operating during employee entry when such operations pose a hazard from potential grain movement.    (a)	On or about December 8, 2020, the bottom discharge auger for Silo 19 was running while RCPF employees were inside the silo and standing in a location capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that bottom discharge augers of bins and silos are deenergized and prevented from operating during employee entry into bins and silos when movement of the grain may pose a hazard to entrants.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iv):  "Walking down grain" and similar practices where an employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employees is on moving grain, are prohibited:  The employer does not prohibit employees from "walking down grain"/ similar practices and being on moving grain, or potentially moving grain, when attempting to clear the bottom discharge of bins and silos.  (a)	On or about December 8, 2020, RCPF employees were inside Silo 19 attempting to promote grain flow out of the bottom the silo with the bottom discharge auger running and were standing in a location capable of resulting in engulfment in the event of grain movement.  To abate this violation, the employer must prohibit its employees from "walking down grain", standing on grain while using hand held tools to unplug the bottom discharge of bins and silos, and/or being on moving grain (or potentially moving grain) where conditions are such that grain engulfment is possible.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3):  An observer, equipped to provide assistance, shall be stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee.  Communications (visual, voice, or signal line) shall be maintained between the observer and employee entering the bin, silo or tank:  The employer does not ensure that an observer is stationed outside bins and silos during entries.    (a)	On or about December 8, 2020, an observer was not stationed outside of Silo 19 when the RCPF Manager and a RCPF Operator both entered the space around 6:00 am.  (b)	On or about December 8, 2020, the RCPF Manager engaged in entry activities within Silo 19 around 6:00 am without an observer present.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that a trained and equipped observer is stationed outside all bins and silos during silo entries and that the observer maintains communications with the entrant at all times.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jun 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(6):  Employees shall not enter bins, silos, or tanks underneath a bridging condition, or where buildup of grain products on the sides could fall and bury them:  The employer does not ensure that employees do not enter bins and silos where buildup of grain products on the sides presents an engulfment hazard.  (a)	On or about December 8, 2020, RCPF employees were inside Silo 19 attempting to promote grain flow out of the bottom the silo and were standing in a location capable of resulting in engulfment from the buildup of grain on the sides of the silo.  To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that employees do not enter bins and silos under conditions where the buildup of grain products on the sides could fall and bury employees.