OSHA Inspection: HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Jul 22, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,404 · Current $6,242 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2):  Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:   On or about May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to injuries in the event of a fire or other emergency, and the employer did not perform monthly visual inspections of the portable fire extinguishers to ensure that they were fully charged, undamaged, and ready for immediate employee use, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 6a AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

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 fire fighting:   On or about May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to injuries in the even of a fire, 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 Bethany Illinois, facility.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 6b AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Jul 22, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,404 · Current $6,242 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 expose surfaces:   On or about May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to fire hazards and explosion hazards from the accumulation of fugitive grain dust on surfaces, and the employer did not implement a written housekeeping program, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.272(j)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 7a AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Jul 22, 2025

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 May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards from the accumulation of fugitive grain dust exceeding 1/8 inch on exposed surfaces, at the Bethany, Illinois, facility.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.272(j)(2)(ii), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 7b AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Jul 22, 2025

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 May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to slip and fall hazards from grain spills on the Bin Deck/Inside Head House and Annex to Columbian Tank, 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.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD, 1910.272(j)(4), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 7c AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,404 · Current $6,242 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 May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to physical and burn/explosion hazards at the Bethany, Illinois, facility, and the employer has not developed and implemented a preventive maintenance program/procedures.  This would include the following:  a.	Regular 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.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.272(m)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 8a AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.

Issued

Jul 11, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3):  A certification record maintained of each inspection by the employer in the grain facility, made in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.272(m)(1):   On or about May 28, 2025, employees were exposed to physical and burn/explosion hazards, 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.  HERITAGE GRAIN COOPERATIVE WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.272(m)(3), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 1717711, CITATION NUMER 1, ITEM NUMBER 8b AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 5, 2024, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 201 ROBINSON STREET, BETHANY, ILLINOIS 61914.