OSHA Inspection: KG AGRI PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,316 · Current $3,316

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet or more above a lower level is protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. Personnel perform  maintenance on platforms at heights up to 11 feet above the lower level with an unprotected side.  The side used for access via a fixed ladder platform did not have a means for fall protection in place such as but not limited to a hinged gate or personal fall arrest system. The following condition exposed employees to falls up to 11 feet.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,316 · Current $3,316

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) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure procedures were developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were performing maintenance and other tasks on grain movement equipment, packaging and robotic palletizing equipment.  Plant operators and baggers perform task including but not limited to maintenance on motors and grain movement equipment, cleaning machinery, clearing jams and repositioning bags on pallets near a robotic arm.  Machine specific procedures were not developed, documented and utilized to ensure all energy sources were isolated to protect employees from caught-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:    a) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices  when employees were performing maintenance and other tasks on grain movement equipment, packaging and robotic palletizing equipment.  Plant operators and baggers perform task including but not limited to maintenance on motors and grain movement equipment,  cleaning, clearing jams and repositioning bags on pallets near a robotic arm.  Employees were not adequately trained on the application of hazardous energy control which exposed them to caught-in and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,989 · Current $1,989

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) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in extinguishing a fire.  Portable extinguishers located in the first floor soybean offload area in the southeast and northwest corners were obstructed by a large trash can, bales of hay and cleaning tools. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.  b) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in extinguishing a fire.  The portable extinguisher located on the 3rd floor storage area southeast corner was obstructed by spare grain movement parts and pieces laying in front of the extinguisher.  The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.  c) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in extinguishing a fire.  A portable extinguisher located on the northwest end 3rd floor was obstructed  by a guardrail which would have required employees to reach or climb outside of the rail to access the extinguisher.  The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.  d) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in extinguishing a fire. A portable extinguisher located on the first floor near the air compressor was obstructed by a large trash can. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.  e) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in extinguishing a fire.  Portable fire extinguishers throughout the warehouse area were obstructed by pallets of bagged soybeans that were resting against the beams that extinguishers were mounted to. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,316 · Current $3,316

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:   a) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that machine guarding was provided to protect the operator/bagger and other employees in the machine area of a robotic palletizer.  A robotic arm used for palletizing bags of soybeans was not guarded in the area where pallets enter or exit the movement zone for the robotic arm.  No form of machine guarding was in place to protect baggers from entering the palletizing area where the robotic arm operates.  The following condition exposed employees to struck by hazards.  b) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that machine guarding was provided to protect the plant operators  and other employees in the machine area of a bucket conveyor. Bucket conveyors throughout the plant used for transporting soybeans had open sections where the moving buckets were exposed as they entered/exited other enclosed portions of the movement system.  The following condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,316 · Current $3,316

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) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  a motor with 3 inclined belts and two pulley were enclosed by a guard.  The gravity feed on the first floor was powered by a motor using two large pulleys and 3 inclined belts which were located near the path of travel through the soybean plant.  The motor, belts and pulleys were not enclosed on the south end of the machine which exposed employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)    a) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not ensure that  a motor with 3 inclined belts and two pulleys were enclosed by a guard.  The gravity feed on the first floor was powered by a motor using two large pulleys and 3 inclined belts which were located near the path of travel through the soybean plant.  The motor, belts and pulleys were not enclosed on the south end of the machine which exposed employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:   a) KG Agri Products, Inc. located at 20100 Johnson Rd. Marysville, OH 43040:  On and preceding May 5, 2021,  the employer did not document and certify that a work place specific personal protective equipment (PPE) hazard assessment had been completed.  Employees throughout the facility perform tasks requiring the use of various personal protective equipment.  A written certification had not been completed by the employer which outlines the use of job specific PPE by employees throughout the plant.