OSHA Inspection: AGTEGRA COOPERATIVE

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $15625.00

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards working on the ground around mobile heavy agricultural spraying equipment:  (a)Agtegra Cooperative at 41 County Road 33, Bristol, SD 57219: On or about and at times prior to July 14, 2023, the employer did not ensure employees working on the ground were protected from struck-by and crushing hazards associated with the operation of a John Deere 612R agricultural tractor sprayer. On July 14, 2023, two employees were positioned on the ground in the danger zone near a flatbed trailer while the tractor sprayer operator was returning from the field after spraying herbicide. On the final turn and approach from the field to the semi-trailer, the sprayer operator lost control of the John Deere 612R tractor sprayer and a section of the sprayer boom struck the semi-truck, trailer and the truck driver causing fatal injuries. This condition exposed employees on the ground to struck-by and crushing hazards in the danger zone when the John Deere tractor sprayer was on approach to the semi-trailer.  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to develop protocol and take effective measures to minimize struck-by hazards involving employees working in the danger zone around mobile heavy spraying equipment and to ensure all ground personnel are trained to recognize struck-by and crushing hazards. There are several key principles to ensuring ground personnel are protected from struck-by hazards, listed below are five elements in protecting workers on the ground:  1. All truck driver employees, subcontractor drivers and other ground personnel shall wear high-visibility clothing when working around heavy mobile spraying equipment. 2. Employer needs to ensure employees avoid positioning themselves in a blind spot.  3. There should be clear communication between the sprayer operator and truck driver working on the ground, before the approach to the chemical trailer begins. 4. All truck drivers and additional employees working on the ground should be trained to understand the areas considered to be the danger zone and develop protocol and strategies to ensure workers are protected from struck-by and crushing hazards while working around heavy agricultural machinery. 5. Ground personnel need to be out of the danger zone when the sprayer approaches the chemical trailer.