While cleaning an auger used to rice potatoes, a 39-year-old production worker found her left arm caught in a running auger. The worker suffered multiple lacerations and a partial amputation of her arm. Co-workers had to cut the auger apart to free her arm. An investigation in September 2020 by OSHA determined that the business failed to shut down and isolate energy to the auger during maintenance work, a process known as lockout/tagout. The company also failed to train employees on the required use of lockout/tagout procedures when conducting maintenance activities. OSHA has proposed penalties of $136,532 for two (2) repeat violations of machine safety standards.
The alleged violations below have been grouped because they involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for injury or illness.
Citation 1 Item 1a
Type of Violation: Repeat; $136,532
29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):
A) The employer does not ensure that employees are protected from energized parts when performing pre-operational cleaning of the Line # 4 Ricer horizontal auger. Employees cleaning the horizontal auger in an energized state are exposed to amputation hazards in that the electrical energy powering the mechanical movement is not shut down and isolated.
The violation was most recently discovered at a worksite located in Lima, Ohio.
The business was previously cited for a violation of an equivalent occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1100719, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 22, 2017, with respect to a workplace located in Lima, Ohio 45804.
Citation 1 Item 1b
Type of Violation: Repeat
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer does not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:
A) The employer does not ensure that employees are adequately trained on specific energy control procedures prior to performing pre-operational cleaning of the Line #4 Ricer horizontal auger. Employees cleaning the horizontal auger in this condition are exposed to amputation hazards.
This violation was most recently observed at the worksite located in Lima, Ohio.
The business was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1190719, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on March 22, 2017 with respect to a workplace located in Lima, Ohio 45804.
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