OSHA Inspection: HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,700 Reduced

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):  On or about November 28, 2023, and at times thereafter, employees were exposed to fall hazards greater than four feet without fall protection, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.  These instances included:  a.	Walkway above Columbian Tank. b.	Walkway to TecTank. c.	Entry points to Lower Conveyor.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $4,000 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:   On or about January 18, 2024, and at times thereafter, an employee was exposed to physical and health hazards while working on a conveyor in the tunnel containing Lower Conveyor #1, and the employer did not mark the space with danger signs or other effective means to identify the danger posed in the confined space, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · 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:     On or about January 18, 2024, and times thereafter, an employee was exposed to physical and health hazards while working on a conveyor in the tunnel containing Lower Conveyor #1, and the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1):  The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:   On or about January 18, 2024, and times thereafter, an employee was exposed to physical and health hazards while working on a conveyor in the tunnel containing Lower Conveyor #1, and the employer did not provide the employee with safety training to acquire the understanding, knowledge and skills necessary for the safe performance of work duties in confined spaces, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d):  The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):   On or about January 18, 2024, an employee was exposed to amputation hazards while working on Lower Conveyor #1 in the tunnel beneath the facility.  The employer failed to implement energy control application steps.  As a result, energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device applications [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,652 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2):  Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:   On or about December 19, 2024, employees were exposed to injuries in the event of an emergency, and the employer did not perform monthly visual inspections of the portable fire extinguishers to ensure they were fully charged, undamaged, and ready for immediate employee use, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1):  An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage firefighting:  On or about December 19, 2024, employees were exposed to injuries in the event of an emergency, and the employer did not provide an educational program to the employees, in order to familiarize the employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards associated with incipient stage firefighting, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,650 Reduced

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:    On or about December 19, 2024, employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards from the accumulation of fugitive grain dust on surfaces, and the employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that establishes frequency and method(s) determined best to reduce the accumulation of fugitive grain dust, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(2)(ii):  The employer did not immediately remove any fugitive grain dust accumulations whenever the exceeded 1/8 of an inch (.32cm) at priority housekeeping areas, pursuant to the housekeeping program for grain elevators:   On or about December 19, 2024, employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards from the accumulation of fugitive grain dust exceeding 1/8 of an inch on exposed surfaces, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(j)(4):  The housekeeping program at the grain handling facility did not address the procedures for removing grain and product spills from the work area:   On or about February 21, 2024, employees were exposed to slip and fall hazards from grain spills on the Bin Deck/Inside Head House, and the employer did not have a housekeeping program with procedures to address the removal of spills from the work area, at the Bethany, Illinois facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,766 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(1):  The employer did not implement preventive maintenance procedures consisting of the requirements of (m)(1)(i) through (m)(1)(ii):  On or about December 19, 2023, employees were exposed to physical and burn/explosion hazards at the Bethany, Illinois, facility, and the employer did not develop and implemented a preventive maintenance program and/or procedures.  This would include the following:  a.	Regularly scheduled inspections of at least the mechanical and safety control equipment associated with dryers, grain stream processing equipment, dust collection equipment including filter collectors, and bucket elevators. b.	Lubrication and other appropriate maintenance in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, or as determined necessary by prior operating records.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3):  A certification record was not maintained of each inspection by the employer in the grain facility, made in accordance with .272(m)(1):  On or about December 19, 2023, employees were exposed to physical and burn/explosion hazards at the Bethany, Illinois, facility, and the employer did not maintain a certification record of each inspection performed in accordance with the preventive maintenance program, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.  This certification record would include the following:  a. Date of the inspection. b. Name of the person who performed the inspection. c. Serial number, or other identifier, of the equipment.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,766 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:   On or about December 19, 2023, employees were exposed to electrical hazards because a loose cover did not effectively close the electrical box associated with the Air Lock/Distributor on the Ben Deck/Inside Head House, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.

Issued

Mar 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 25, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,766 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii):   Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:   On or about December 19, 2023, employees were exposed to electrical hazards because of missing strain relief on the conduit providing electrical power to the South Leg Motor Drive on the Bin Deck/Inside Head House, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.