OSHA Inspection: CONE AG, INC.

Issued

Oct 22, 2024

Abate by

Nov 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $5,485 · Current $3,291 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belts were not enclosed by guards conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  (a)Cone AG, Inc. at 2000 South 4th Street, Onida , SD 57564: On or about and at times prior to September 11, 2024, the employer did not ensure that adequate guarding was in place on the Dry Fertilizer Hopper within the dry fertilizer building.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Oct 22, 2024

Abate by

Nov 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,113 · Current $2,468 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:   (a)Cone AG, Inc. at 2000 South 4th Street, Onida , SD 57564: On or about and at times prior to September 11, 2024, the employer did not ensure unimpeded access to an electrical panel in the Seed Storage Building on the northwest corner of the building.  This condition exposed employees to potential shock and electrocution hazards related to the inability to disable power during an emergency.

Issued

Oct 22, 2024

Abate by

Nov 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3): The employer did not ensure that stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings.  (a)Cone AG, Inc. at 2000 South 4th Street, Onida , SD 57564: On or about and at times prior to September 11, 2024, the employer did not ensure that brick systems utilized as stairs to enter and egress from the berm of the Liquid Fertilizer area had uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings.  This condition exposed employees to slip, trip and fall hazards associated with non-uniform walking/working surfaces.  (b)Cone AG, Inc. at 2000 South 4th Street, Onida , SD 57564: On or about and at times prior to September 11, 2024, the employer did not ensure that the homemade wood stair system utilized to enter and egress from the control room to the berm of the Liquid Fertilizer area had uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings.  This condition exposed employees to slip, trip and fall hazards associated with non-uniform walking/working surfaces.

Issued

Oct 22, 2024

Abate by

Nov 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 by sign reading DANGER-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language which would satisfy the requirement for a sign:  (a)Cone AG, Inc. at 2000 South 4th Street, Onida , SD 57564: On or about and at times prior to September 11, 2024, the employer did not ensure that signage or other effective means were used to warn employees of the danger posed by accessible permit required confined spaces, to include but not limited, to the Liquid Fertilizer tank area.  This condition exposed employees to hazards associated with uninformed entry into a confined space, including asphyxiation.