OSHA Inspection: GEORGIA TORREFACTION TECHNOLOGY LLC

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $1,741 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.23(b)(10): The employer did not ensure that any ladder with structural or other defects was immediately tagged "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or with similar language in accordance with �1910.145 and removed from service until repaired in accordance with �1910.22(d), or replaced:  a. 11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Outside Platform) - Employees were exposed to fall hazard.  Employees were utilizing a 15'  metal ladder to access upper level outside platform  leading to the feed mill bin. The ladder was observed having damage such as several missing rungs and severely bent to the vertical structural support frame of the ladder and was not taken out of service, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 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 was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by one or more of the following:  Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:  a. 11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Outside Feed Mill Bin) - Employees were exposed to fall hazard.  The employees are required to access the upper level platform to gain access to the upper feed mill bin area, without a fall protection system.   The upper level storage area was not equipped with the standard guardrails along the open-sides of the storage area, exposing employees to a fall of  approximately 15' to lower level, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,990 · Current $1,393 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2):The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  a.  11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Feed Mill Bin) - Employees were exposed to atmospheric hazard.  Employees are required to access the feed mill bin to remove the accumulated material from the sides of the bin which builds up (maintenance/cleaning activities) along the walls of the bin.   Exposed employees were not informed of the existence and of danger posed by such permit-required confined space through the posting of danger signs or other usually effective means, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(4):When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:  a. 11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Feed Mill Bin) - Employees were exposed to atmospheric hazard.  An effective written permit required confined space program was not developed and implemented for a workplace where employees are required to entered into permit spaces, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(1):The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Throughout Facility) - The employees were exposed to sudden energization or start-up of multi-energy source machines.   The employer did not develop and implement a lockout/tagout program with machine specific written procedures for locking out/tagging out the multi-energy machines  to safe guard employees performing services and/or maintenance on machinery or equipment, on or about 01/12/2021.  a.  Feed Mill Bin b.  Pellet Press Machine c.   Hammer Mill Machine

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(4)(i):Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  a. 11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Fiber Bin Flail Disconnect Switch) - The employer did not properly affix the lock apparatus to the machine  for the isolating of the  machine energy source (Feed Mill Bin).  Employees are entering the feed mill bin to make adjustments and/or servicing on the machines without locking and/or tagging out the equipment, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,492 · Current $1,044 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:   a.  11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Throughout Facility) - Employees were exposed to fire hazard.  The designated, mounted portable fire extinguishers were hidden under the huge amount of wood dust and placed on the floor whereas employees can accidently knock over.  There were no markings and/or labeled/identified as to its location, in the event of an emergency, on or about 01/12/2021.

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Production Area) - Employees were exposed to caught-between hazard.  Employees were required to operate the machines for production, standing and working in close proximity to the unguarded and partially guarded belt mechanism.  The belt was not fully guarded, thus exposing employees to a potential hazard of in-running nip points and/or injury resulting from belt breakage, on or about 01/12/2021.  a.  Pellet Press Machine b.  Pellet Screen

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $1,741 Reduced

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:  11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Outside Conveyor)- Employees were exposed to ingoing nip point and/or caught-in hazard.  Employees were working and walking in close proximity to the unguarded moving gears (chain and sprocket) approximately 2" from ground level when accessing the area, on or about 01/12/2021.         a - drive chain for the Hammer Mill Discharge auger       b - at the Pellet Cooler Discharge auger       c - Conveyor end - Hammer Mill Conveyor

Issued

Jun 22, 2021

Abate by

Jul 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,492 · Current $1,044 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2): Each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:   11642 Highway 83 S. Monticello, GA (Outside Conveyor)- Employees were exposed to electrical hazard (Production Area) - Employees were exposed to electrical hazard.  Employees were exposed to contact with live wires, in that, there was a faceplate missing from the 120V wall plug-in receptacle, which employees access on a daily basis to plug in the equipment, on or about 01/12/2021.