OSHA Inspection: FARMERS ELEVATOR COMPANY

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Abate by

Jan 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,405 · Current $1,703 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i):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 was protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system or personal fall arrest system:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from falls while standing on a metal platform attached to the access door of Bin 38.  This condition exposed employees to fall hazards greater than 4 feet.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.30(a)(1):The employer did not provide training to each employee who uses personal fall protection systems prior to being exposed to a fall hazards:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees were trained on the use of fall protection systems prior to being exposed to fall hazards.  This condition exposed the employees to fall hazards greater than four feet.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,405 · Current $1,703 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:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer did not develop a written permit space program and did not make it available to employees prior to entering bins and other confined spaces.  This condition exposed employees to engulfment hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Abate by

Jan 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform 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)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in the North Dump Boot Pit. This condition exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.  (b)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in the Middle Dump Boot Pit. This condition exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.  (c)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in the Inside Dump Boot Pit. This condition exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.  (d)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in the Scale Pits near the Main Office. This exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.  (e)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located at Bin 38. This condition exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.  (f)Farmers Elevator Company, at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June, 13, 2025, 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-required spaces which includes, but is not limited to, the boot pit located in Bin 37. This condition exposed employees to various hazards within permit required confined spaces.    Abatement 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

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedures and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on equipment that included, but not limited to, drag conveyors where the unexpected energization or start-up could occur.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in, struck-by and electrical hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulleys with parts seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the drag conveyor used while cleaning grain from bin 25 was guarded. This condition exposed employees to ingoing nip points.  (b)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the drag conveyor used while cleaning grain from bin 26 was guarded. This condition exposed employees to ingoing nip points.  (c)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the drag conveyor used while cleaning grain from bin 27 was guarded. This condition exposed employees to ingoing nip points.  (d)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the belt and pulley on the drag conveyor used while cleaning grain from bin 28 was guarded. This condition exposed employees to ingoing nip points.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(h)(1): Projecting keys, setscrews, or other projections in revolving parts were not removed, made flush, or guarded by metal covers:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure the spinning shaft with an unprotected keyway edge and protruding bolt heads located on the drag conveyer of Bin 38 were properly guarded.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.  (b)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure the spinning shaft with an unprotected keyway edge and protruding bolt heads located on the drag conveyer of Bin 45 were properly guarded.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.  (c)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure the spinning shaft with an unprotected keyway edge and protruding bolt heads located on the drag conveyer of Bin 27 were properly guarded.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer did not issue a permit for entering bins, silos or tanks in the grain handling facility before the employees entered the bins, silos, or tanks:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer did not ensure that bin entry permits and procedures were developed and implemented prior to employees entering Bin 38 to clean and remove grain.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by, engulfment, and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(d): The employer did not develop and implement an emergency action plan meeting the requirements contained in 1910.38(a):  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer did not develop or implement and emergency action plan for employees in the event of a fire or other emergency within the facility.  This condition exposed employees to various hazards regarding emergencies on site.  Abatement Note:  The Emergency Action Plan shall include:     (1)        Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments;  (2)        Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;  (3)        Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;  (4)        Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them;  (5)        The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and  (6)        Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.     The employer shall:     (1)        Establish an alarm system that complies with 29 CFR 1910.165;  (2)        Before implementing the emergency action plan, the employer shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.  (3)        The employer shall review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. The written plan shall be kept at the workplace and made available for employee review. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally to employees and the employer need not maintain a written plan.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(e)(1): The employer did not provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job assignments would expose them to new hazards in the grain handling facilities:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees were properly trained to recognize the hazards associated with the operations within the grain handling facility. This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.  Abatement Note: Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work, shall be trained in at least the following:  (i)  General safety precautions associated with the facility, including recognition and preventive measures for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources such as smoking; and,  (ii)  Specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to, cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, hot work procedures, preventive maintenance procedures and lock-out/tag-out procedures.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(e)(2):The employer did not ensure employees assigned special tasks, such as bin entry, where provided training to perform these tasks safely:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees assigned the duty of conducting Bin 38 clean out operations had the necessary training to preform these duties in a safe manner.  This condition exposed employees to engulfment, caught-in, struck-by, and electrical hazards.      Note to paragraph (e)(2): Training for an employee who enters grain storage structures includes training about engulfment and mechanical hazards and how to avoid them.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Abate by

Jan 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $1,702 · Current $851 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that electrical equipment was effectively closed, in that the 30 amp breaker panel on the west wall in the Feed Shed were missing two knockouts.  This condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution as well as fire hazards.  (b)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that electrical equipment was effectively closed, in that employees were exposed to live electrical circuits associated with a missing electrical breaker in an unlabeled breaker panel on the north side of Bin 26.  This condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution as well as fire hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure and extended through walls of a structure:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that an electrical extension cord were not being utilized as permanent wiring and did not extend through holes in walls located on the east side of of the Warm Up Shed on the north end of the property . This condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Abate by

Jan 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $2,838 · Current $1,419 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in in-patient hospitalization, amputation or the loss of an eye:  (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 6, 2025, the employer failed to report within a 24 hour period, an in-patient hospitalization due to a partial grain engulfment.

Issued

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):   (a)Farmers Elevator Company at 12 East Railway Street, Platte, SD 57369: On or about and at times prior to June 13, 2025, the employer did not ensure that all powered industrial truck (PIT) operators were competent to operate the Mitsubishi, Model FG15, safely by a successful completion of a training program.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with unsafe forklift operations.