OSHA Inspection: GRAIN MILLERS, INC.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,052 · Current $4,231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(7): Grab bars extend 42 inches (1.1 m) above the access level or landing platforms served by the ladder;  On or about February 27, 2024, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; the ladder used to access the penthouse had grab bars at the top of the fixed ladder which extended approximately 32 inches exposing employees to trip and fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toe boards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used.  On or about February 27, 2024, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; employees had various tasks which required them to use the fixed ladder to access the penthouse which did not have an offset or self-closing gate at the top exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Abate by

Aug 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,816 · Current $5,290 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 February 27, 2024, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities on the Manual 4-Way Diverter located in the Penthouse.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to clean out the airlock.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Abate by

Aug 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,052 · Current $4,231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii):  An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.  On or about February 26, 2024 and thereafter, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; the employer failed to evaluate the forklift operators at least once every three years to determine if the operator was performing safely and had the knowledge or experience exposing employees to struck by and caught in between hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Abate by

Aug 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,052 · Current $4,231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  At an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin;  (b)  On or about February 29, 2024, in the Packaging Area, the TechPak Series 150 cream colored conveyor for the 50-pounds bags of less had an unguarded nip point between the belt and roller exposing employees to caught in between hazards.  (c)  On or about February 29, 2024, in the Packaging Area, the Palletizer conveyor for the 50-pound bags or less had an unguarded nip point between the belt and roller exposing employees to caught in between hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,340 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(4):  Barrels, containers, and drums. Revolving drums, barrels, and containers shall be guarded by an enclosure which is interlocked with the drive mechanism, so that the barrel, drum, or container cannot revolve unless the guard enclosure is in place.  On or about February 29, 2024, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; in the Dryer Area, the It's a GEM:  GEM Roaster Company had an unguarded revolving drum used to tumble the product dry exposing employees to entanglement and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,052 · Current $4,231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i):  Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.  At an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin;  (a)  On or about February 28, 2024; Bin 7 and 6 had an unguarded projecting shaft with keyway which was not filled in exposing employees to entanglement hazards.  (b)  On or about February 29, 2024; Bin 5, 4, 3, 2 had an unguarded projecting shaft with keyway which was not filled in exposing employees to entanglement hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,816 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.  On or about February 27, 2024 and thereafter, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; in the Dryer Area; the back end of the GEM Roaster had an unguarded chain and sprocket which could be accessed from above exposing employees to caught between hazards.

Issued

Jul 12, 2024

Abate by

Aug 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,816 · Current $5,290 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii):  All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.  On or about February 15, 2024, at an establishment located at 5703 County Road U, in Newton, Wisconsin; the floor auger in Silo 4 was not de-energized prior to employees performing cleaning activities exposing employees to entanglement hazards.