OSHA Inspection: WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE

Issued

Feb 13, 2023

Abate by

Apr 24, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  On or about November 8, 2022: Employees engaged in truck loading and unloading activities at the Western Sugar Cooperative facility located at 2205 North 10th Street, Gering, Nebraska were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards related to positioning between the truck trailer and the loading dock.   FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:  1)	Construct and implement a policy forbidding employee positioning between a backing truck/trailer and any object.  Train employees on that policy and enforce the policy through frequent random inspections of the loading dock operations.    2)	Ensure truck/trailer operators are always aware of ground employee positions and never begin backing until visual/verbal contact with that employee.  3)	Reinforce the Stop Work Authority and Hazard Identification & Rick Assessment programs to employees and management to reduce the risk of employees placing themselves in positions of exposure to future injury while completing tasks.    4)	Inspect and maintain dock equipment, including but not limited to dock levelers and bump pads, on a regular basis per the manufacturers' recommendations, greatly reducing the probability of equipment failure and a need for repeated backing for truck realignment.

Issued

Feb 13, 2023

Abate by

Apr 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $7,750 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 (1.2m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system:  On or about November 8, 2022: Employees engaged in truck loading and unloading activities at the Western Sugar Cooperative facility located at 2205 North 10th Street, Gering, Nebraska were exposed to fall hazards related to working near the loading dock edge without fall protection. Instances of exposure include but are not limited to:   i. Two employees observing trucks backing up while standing near the loading dock edge while the dock door was raised fully open.