OSHA Inspection: GULF RICE MILLING, INC.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6930.00 · Current $3465.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    The employer has not implemented a hearing conservation program for employees that are exposed to noise levels at an eight hour time weighted average greater than 85 dba.  This violation occurred on or about April 19, 2012, when employees were exposed to the hazard of excessive noise at eight hour time weighted averages of 92.1 dba, 91.1 dba and 90.1 dba, while working in the mill and packing areas of the facility.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(i):     The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by an employee who is required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) to wear personal protective equipment:    The employer does not require employees to wear hearing protection when they are exposed to noise levels at an eight hour time weighted average greater than 90 dba.  This violation occurred on or about April 19, 2012, when employees were exposed to the hazard of excessive noise at eight hour time weighted averages of 92.1 dba, 91.1 dba and 90.1 dba while working in the mill and packing area of the facility.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2970.00 · Current $1485.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii):     The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:    The employer has not established and implemented the elements of a written respiratory protection program required for employees voluntarily wearing tight fitting respirators. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees fumigated railcars were exposed to inhalation hazards while wearing tight fitting half face respirators that were not cleaned, stored, and maintained in a sanitary condition and employees were not medically evaluated.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4950.00 · Current $2475.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii):     Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    The employer does not ensure that the points of operation on all machines are guarded to prevent the operator from having any part of their body in the danger zone during the operating cycle. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees in the maintenance shop were exposed to the hazard of being struck by the point of operation of a Rockwell drill press that was not guarded.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2970.00 · Current $1485.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5):     Fan blade guards, where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet above the floor or working level, had openings larger than one half inch:    The employer does not ensure that the blades of fans located less than seven feet from the floor are guarded. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees in the milling area were exposed to the hazard of being struck by the blades of a large industrial fan that had a guard that did not cover the entire periphery of the blades and, over the guarded area, presented one inch openings.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2970.00 · Current $1485.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b):     Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:    The employer does not ensure all machines designed for a fixed location are anchored to prevent them from walking or moving. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees in the maintenance shop were exposed to struck-by hazards while using a Dayton seven inch bench grinder that was not anchored to the floor.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4950.00 · Current $2475.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4):     Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:    The employer does not ensure that the work rests on all bench grinders are kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees in the maintenance shop were exposed to struck-by hazards while using a Dayton seven inch bench grinder that had the work rest adjusted to 3/16 of an inch from the grinding wheel.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i):     Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:     The employer does not provide employees the information contained in Appendix D, Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard, to employees voluntarily wearing tight fitting respirators and filtering face piece dust masks. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, and at times prior thereto, when employees voluntarily wore tight fitting half face respirators and filtering face piece dust masks throughout the facility before they had been given or trained on the information contained in Appendix D of this standard.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):     The employer did not maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace:    The employer does not maintain and make readily accessible copies of material safety data sheets for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, when employees used hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, SW-1 Lacquer Thinner and the material safety data sheet for this chemical was not maintained at the worksite.

Issued

2012-05-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):     Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    The employer does not provide employees effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area. This violation occurred on or about April 18, 2012, when employees that used hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, SW-1 Lacquer Thinner, and Phostoxin Pellets (aluminum phosphide) had not been trained on the hazards of the chemicals.