OSHA Inspection: BRIESS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8204.00 · Current $9707.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2): If there is no ESLI (end-of-service-life indicator) appropriate for conditions in the employer's workplace, the employer implements a change schedule for canisters and cartridges that is based on objective information or data that will ensure that canisters and cartridges are changed before the end of their service life. The employer shall describe in the respirator program the information and data relied upon and the basis for the canister and cartridge change schedule and the basis for reliance on the data.   At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; the employer's written respiratory protection program did not implement a change schedule for cartridges to ensure they are changed before the end of their service life. Employees were required to wear Draeger 5500 X-plore full-face respirators equipped with combination filters (P/N: 6738361) during bleaching activities.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i): Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition.  On or about August 9, 2022, at an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition. Employees engaged in sanitation duties were required to wear a Draeger 5500 X-plore full-face respirator equipped with combination filters (P/N: 6738361) that were not maintained in a sanitary condition.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10256.00 · Current $15625.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall 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. NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.  a) On or about August 24, 2022, at an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6; the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence, location, and danger posed by the permit spaces of the upper loading deck of the kiln. Employees were required to enter the spaces to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples, performing blowdown of the trays between different grain varieties, and loading grain.  b) On or about September 29, 2022, to October 3, 2022, at an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6; the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence, location, and danger posed by the permit spaces of the lower loading deck of the kiln. Employees were required to enter the space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to collecting grain samples.  c) On or about August 24, 2022, at an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6; the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence, location, and danger posed by the permit spaces of the germ bed compartments. Employees were required to enter the spaces daily to conduct activities such as, but not limited to cleaning and unloading the grain from the germ bed.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0530

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6:  a) The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. Employees were exposed to potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when entering the upper loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples, loading grain, and to perform blowdown between different grain varieties.   b) The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. Employees were exposed to potential thermal and mechanical hazards when entering the lower loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to collecting grain samples.  c) The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. Employees were exposed to the potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, cleaning and emptying the germ beds.  All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.146(c) through (k) must be covered in a written permit required confined space (PRCS) program. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following: 1) Evaluation of all spaces for PRCS 2) Informing employees of PRCS locations 3) PRCS entry permit program 4) Training of affected, entrant, attendant and supervisor employees' duties 5) Emergency rescue plan  Note: A permit required confined space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space under the procedures of 1910.147(c)(7).

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10256.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0530

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(1):  Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not implement the measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry.  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6;   a) The employer did not take effective measures to prevent unauthorized entry into the upper loading deck of the kiln. Employees entered this area without implementation of any measures required for entry into a permit required confined space that contained potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards.  b) The employer did not take effective measures to prevent unauthorized entry into the lower loading deck of the kiln. Employees entered this area without implementation of any measures required for entry into a permit required confined space that contained thermal and mechanical hazards.  c) The employer did not take effective measures to prevent unauthorized entry into the four germ beds. Employees entered these areas without implementation of any measures required for entry into a permit required confined space that contained potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0530

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(2): Under the permit space program required by paragraph (c)(4) of 29 CFR 1910.146, the employer shall identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees enter them.  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6:  a) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of the permit space of the upper loading deck of the kiln before employees entered it. Employees were exposed to potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when entering the upper loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples, loading grain, and to perform blowdown between different grain varieties.   b) On or about September 29, 2022, to October 3, 2022, the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of the permit space of the lower loading deck of the kiln before employees entered it. Employees were exposed to potential thermal and mechanical hazards when entering the lower loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to collecting grain samples.  c) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of the permit space of the Germ Bed Compartment 2 before employees entered it. Employees were exposed to the potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, cleaning and emptying the germ beds.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0530

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations:  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6:  a) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations into the permit-required confined space of the upper deck of the kiln. Employees were exposed to potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when entering the upper loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples, loading grain, and to perform blowdown between different grain varieties.   b) On or about September 29, 2022, to October 3, 2022, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations into the permit-required confined space of the lower deck of the kiln. Employees were exposed to potential thermal and mechanical hazards when entering the lower loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to collecting grain samples.  c) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations into the permit-required confined space of the Germ Bed Compartment 2. Employees were exposed to the potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, cleaning and emptying the germ beds.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0530

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(iii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), when testing for atmospheric hazards, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors:  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6:  a) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions in the upper loading deck of the kiln when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors, in that order. Employees were exposed to potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when entering the upper loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples, loading grain, and to perform blowdown between different grain varieties.   b) On or about September 29, 2022, to October 3, 2022, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions in the lower loading deck of the kiln when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors, in that order. Employees were exposed to potential thermal and mechanical hazards when entering the lower loading deck of the kiln when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, collecting grain samples.  c) On or about August 24, 2022, the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions in the Germ Bed Compartment 2 when entry operations were conducted by testing first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, and then for toxic gases and vapors, in that order. Employees were exposed to the potential atmospheric and mechanical hazards when they were required to enter that space to conduct activities such as, but not limited to, cleaning and emptying the germ beds.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(i): Evaluate a prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazard(s) identified.  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6; the employer did not evaluate the prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the potential atmospheric, thermal, and mechanical hazards identified in the upper and lower loading decks of the kiln, and in the four compartments of the germ beds.  Note to paragraph (k)(l)(i): What will be considered timely will vary according to the specific hazards involved in each entry. For example, ��1910.134, Respiratory Protection, requires that employers provide a standby person or persons capable of immediate action to rescue employee(s) wearing respiratory protection while in work areas defined as IDLH atmospheres.

Issued

2023-01-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10256.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer shall provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by this section acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this section.  At an establishment located at 605 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Malt House 6; the employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by the permit required confined space standard acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned. Malt House Operator employees were not trained in the duties for authorized entrants, attendants, entry supervisors and affected positions.