OSHA Inspection: HOLMES AG SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(3)(iv): The employer did not ensure that each employee be 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.  a) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not ensure that a ladderway floor hole entrance leading to a basement boot pit was protected by a self-closing gate or an offset.  The floor opening leading to the basement boot pit had rails and enclosure around three sides and two loose chains hung across the opening leading to the ladder.  The following condition exposed employees to falls up to 10 feet into the basement.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $1,741 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) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, 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 permit required confined spaces including but not limited to the basement boot pit.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $0 Reduced

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) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not implement a permit required confined space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146 for employees who enter permit required confined spaces including but not limited to grain bins and a basement boot pit that were identified as permit required confined spaces.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:   a) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not ensure that procedures were developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy on equipment throughout the facility.  Employees perform servicing, cleaning and maintenance on grain machinery where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury.  The following condition exposes employees to caught-in/struck-by hazards.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:   a) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedures and employees utilizing hazardous energy control to ensure that the procedures were adequate and were being utilized correctly.  Employees perform servicing, cleaning and maintenance on grain machinery where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury.  The following condition exposes employees to caught-in/struck-by hazards.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,487 · Current $1,741 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) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not ensure that a pulley coming off of a motor used to power an auger for grain movement from the dry bin was adequately guarded which exposed employees to caught-in and cut hazards.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs 42 inches or less from the floor level were not fully enclosed by guards conforming to requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  a) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not ensure that a horizontal belt located less than 42 inches above the floor was adequately guarded.  A horizontal belt coming off of a motor used to power an auger for grain movement from the dry bin was not fully enclosed which exposed employees to caught-in and cut hazards.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

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) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did not ensure that a chain and sprocket coming off of a motor used to power an auger for grain movement from the dry bin was fully enclosed which exposed employees to caught-in and cut hazards.

Issued

Apr 23, 2021

Abate by

May 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces.  a) Holmes Ag Service, Inc. located at 301 S. Market Street HOLMESVILLE, OH 44633:  On and preceding March 17, 2021, the employer did develop and a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces within the milling area and other areas of the facility where grain is processed.