OSHA Inspection: ESCO INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):     (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552:  On or about and at times prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the workplace was assessed to determine if hazards were present which would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment. This condition exposed employees to potential hazards.       Abatement note: The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that shall include the following:       (1)        Identifies the workplace evaluated;   (2)        The person certifying that the evaluation has been performed;   (3)        The date(s) that the hazard assessment was performed; and   (4)        Which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirator(s) were necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirator(s) were required by the employer:      (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On or prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not have a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section.  The program was not established and implemented whenever respirators were required by the employer, in that the employer required the use of a half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator during grain bin entry. This hazard exposed the employee to health hazards to include grain dust.     Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:        (1)        Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;        (2)        Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;         (3)        Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;         (4)        Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;        (5)        Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;         (6)        Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;        (7)        Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;         (8)        Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and         (9)        Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5070.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish specific procedural steps to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552:  On or before November 15, 2016, the employer did not establish specific procedural steps for energy control 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, including but not limited to the following:      (1)        Seed bagging machine  (2)        Robotic wrapper  (3)        Conveyor equipment

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not certify in writing that each powered industrial truck received training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):     (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not certify in writing that forklift operators were trained in and evaluated on operation of powered industrial trucks.    Abatement Note: Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(e)(1)(ii): Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work in the grain handling facility were not trained in the specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to lockout / tag out procedures:    (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not ensure employees were provided adequate training, prior to starting work as a new employee and at least annually, in specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to  lockout/tagout procedures.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5070.00 · Current $2500.00 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)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not ensure permits were developed and implemented regarding the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry.  The employer did not issue permits for employees entering bins to clean to include, but not limited to, specifying acceptable entry conditions, ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards, and verifying that the conditions in the permit space were acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry. This condition exposed employees to mechanical and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:    (a)Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and before November 15, 2016, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for rescue operations specifically suited for the bins, silos, or tanks being entered.  Employees were required to enter bins with no rescue equipment on site or coordination with the local volunteer fire department. This condition exposed employees to engulfment and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $1000.00 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 exposed surfaces:     (a) Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program to prevent fire and explosion hazards. The employer's housekeeping program was not adequately addressing the frequency of housekeeping methods of grain dust and spilled grain for the production areas. This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of fire and explosion.

Issued

2017-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-06-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3802.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii):  Employees were not provided effective information and training on measures to protect themselves from hazards of 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:          (a) Esco Industries, Inc. dba Performance Seed at 854 Northwestern Ave., Midland SD 57552: On and prior to November 15, 2016, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on measures to protect themselves from hazards of chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area, such as but not limited to the following chemicals:     1. Douglas Products and Packaging Company - Aluminum Phosphide Fumigant Pellets (Fumitoxin)   2. Wellmark International - Diacon IGR   3. Lime Out Stain Remover         4. Hydraulic fluid   5. Propane   6. Motor oil       Abatement Note:       (a)        Employees shall be informed of:       (1)        Any operation in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and,       (2)        The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and safety data sheets required by this section.       (b)        Employee training shall include at least:       (1)        Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);       (2)        The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;       (3)        The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used;       (4)        The details of the hazardous communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and the material safety data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.