OSHA Inspection: UNITED COOPERATIVE

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,349 · Current $5,009 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(13)(i): Has a self-closing gate that slides or swings away from the hole, and is equipped with a top rail and midrail or equivalent intermediate member that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section; or  On or about October 1, 2022 and thereafter,  at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, at the Overhead A and B grain bins; the ladder used to access the catwalk for observing the amount of grain in the trucks did not have an offset or swing gate to prevent employees from falling through the opening.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

Apr 24, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,436 · Current $6,262 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2):  If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall 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)  On or about the week of November 21, 2022,  at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the far M-C Grain Dryer, Model 3810 six compartment dryer, the entrance was not labeled with a danger sign.  (b)  On or about the week of November 21, 2022,  at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the middle M-C Grain Dryer, Model 3810 six compartment dryer, the entrance was not labeled with a danger sign.  (c)  On or about the week of November 21, 2022,  at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the little M-C Grain Dryer, Model 975 four compartment dryer, the entrance was not labeled with a danger sign.         NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

Apr 24, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,436 · Current $6,262 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(4):  Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly.  On or about November 28, 2022, at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, employees utilized a Toyota forklift with a homemade cherry picker attachment to remove a motor and auger assembly from an inclined position.  The attachment was not approved by the forklift manufacturer prior to use nor was the data plate updated to adjust the capacity of the forklift.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

Apr 24, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(5):  If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, the user shall request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered.  On or about November 28, 2022, at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, employees utilized a homemade cherry picker which was not identified on the nameplate of the Toyota forklift it was used when the center of gravity was affected.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,436 · Current $6,262 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(c)(7): Slings shall be padded or protected from the sharp edges of their loads.  On or about November 28, 2022, at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the alloy steel chain sling attached to the cherry picker/forklift jib boom hoist did not have padding or protection where the sling went through the jib beam and down to hold the load exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(c)(13): Employers must not load a sling in excess of its recommended safe working load as prescribed by the sling manufacturer on the identification markings permanently affixed to the sling.   On or about November 28, 2022, at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the cherry picker / forklift jib boom hoist with an alloy steel chain sling, rated for towing equipment, was used in excess of the rated capacity to rig a motor and inclined screw auger conveyor and lift it out of place exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(e)(3)(i): In addition to the inspection required by paragraph (d) of this section, a thorough periodic inspection of alloy steel chain slings in use shall be made on a regular basis, to be determined on the basis of (A) frequency of sling use; (B) severity of service conditions; (C) nature of lifts being made; and (D) experience gained on the service life of slings used in similar circumstances. Such inspections shall in no event be at intervals greater than once every 12 months.  On or about November 28, 2022, at an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the employer did not conduct a thorough periodic inspection of the alloy steel chain sling attached to the forklift jib boom hoist at least annually to ensure the alloy steel chain sling was used as designed and inspected for cracks, kinks, gouges exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Mar 27, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The employer shall certify that the periodic inspections have been performed. The certification shall identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.  At an establishment located at 720 North Main Street in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the employer did not certify that the periodic inspection was conducted on equipment such as but not limited to:  dryers, elevator legs, screw augers nor that the authorized employees were familiar with their responsibilities.