Citation 1 Item 1a
Type of Violation: Serious; $2,500
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:
(a) Waterloo Facility – The employer did not establish lockout specific procedures for this location. Employees are exposed to various pieces of equipment such as, but not limited to, drag conveyors, elevators, blowers, augers and various other pieces of equipment being used in grain handling operations. This condition exposed employees to possible amputation and or engulfment hazards in the event of inadvertent equipment startup.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 1 Item 1b
Type of Violation: Serious; Grouped
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(m)(4): The employer did not implement procedures in the grain handling facility for the use of tags and locks which would prevent the inadvertent application of energy or motion to equipment being repaired, serviced, or adjusted, which could result in employee injury:
(a) Waterloo Facility – The employer did not establish lockout specific procedures for employees to follow to ensure equipment energy sources are adequately isolated. Employees are exposed to various pieces of equipment such as, but not limited to, drag conveyors, elevators, blowers, augers and various other pieces of equipment being used in grain handling operations. This condition exposed employees to possible amputation and or engulfment hazards in the event of inadvertent equipment startup.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 1 Item 2
Type of Violation: Serious; $2,500
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section:
(a) Bin #2 – The employer did not ensure the belt and pulley system located on the discharge end was properly guarded. Half of the existing guard was displaced, sitting on the ground, creating an approximately 11″ x 33″ (inch) opening exposing the belt and pulley system. This condition exposed employees to a possible amputation hazard resulting from contact with rotating belt and pulley system and was observed on or about 8/8/17.
(b) Bin #3 – The employer did not ensure the belt and pulley system located on the discharge end was properly guarded. Cutouts existed in the guard, and the guard did not cover the entire pulley system. This condition exposed employees to a possible amputation hazard resulting from contact with the rotating belt and pulley system. This was observed on or about 8/8/17.
(c) Bin #5 – The employer did not ensure the belt and pulley system located on the discharge end was properly guarded. Half of the existing guard was missing creating an approximately 11″ x 33″ (inch) opening exposing the belt and pulley system. This condition exposed employees to a possible amputation hazard resulting from contact with the rotating belt and pulley system.
This was observed on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 1 Item 3
Type of Violation: Serious; $2,500
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(e)(2): Employees assigned special tasks in the grain handling facility, such as bin entry were not properly trained on how to avoid engulfment and mechanical hazards during grain bin entries.
(a) Waterloo Facility – The employer did not properly train employees on the proper procedures for acceptable entry conditions to be taken to eliminate and or isolate possible hazards prior to making grain bin entry. Employees made entry into grain bin #6 without full body harnesses, attached retrieval lines and an attendant. There was an open sump above an operating drag conveyor in this bin which contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. There was a buildup of grain 10-12 feet in depth around portions of the inner edge of the bin. Employees were attempting to cause the buildup of grain to flow toward the open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee became engulfed in the flowing grain.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 1 Item 4
Type of Violation: Serious; $2,500
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(m)(3) The employer did not maintain a certification record of each preventive maintenance inspection, performed in accordance with this paragraph (m), containing the date of the inspection, the name of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the equipment specified in paragraph (m)(1)(i) of this section that was inspected:
(a) Waterloo Facility – The employer did not maintain certification of the preventative maintenance records on various pieces of equipment such as, but not limited to, the double leg Hunter elevator.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 1 Item 5
Type of Violation: Serious; $2,500
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.303(f)(1): Each disconnecting means was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged, so the purpose was evident:
(a) Bin #7 – The employer did not ensure the two remote disconnects located on the side of the grain bin were properly labeled to indicate their purpose. The condition exposed employees to a possible delay of isolation of the energy source in the event of an emergency. This was observed on or about 8/8/17.
(b) Bin #8 – The employer did not ensure the two remote disconnects located on the side of the grain bin were properly labeled to indicate their purpose. The condition exposed employees to a possible delay of isolation of the energy source in the event of an emergency. This was observed on or about 8/8/17.
(c) Bin #6 – The employer did not ensure the two remote disconnects located on the side of the grain bin were properly labeled to indicate their purpose. The condition exposed employees to a possible delay of isolation of the energy source in the event of an emergency.
This was observed on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 1
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(1)(i): The employer shall issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks unless the employer or the employer’s representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation. The permit shall certify that the precautions contained in this paragraph (1910.272(g)) have been implemented prior to employees entering bins, silos or tanks. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the entry operations:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not issue a bin entry permit prior to making entry inside grain bin #6 that contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. Employees made entry into grain bin #6 without full body harnesses, attached retrieval lines and an attendant. There was an open sump above an operating drag conveyor in this bin. There was a buildup of grain 10-12 feet in depth around portions of the inner edge of the bin. Employees were attempting to cause the buildup of grain to flow toward the open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee became engulfed in the flowing grain.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 2
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): The employer shall ensure all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to employees inside grain storage structures shall be de-energized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not ensure the sump door was closed and drag conveyor was de-energized and locked out prior to making entry inside the grain bin. Employees made entry into bin #6 which contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. There was a buildup of grain 10-12 feet in depth around portions of the inner edge of the bin. Employees were attempting to cause the buildup of grain to flow toward the open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee became engulfed in the flowing grain.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 3
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(2): The employer did not ensure whenever an employee enters a grain storage structure from a level at or above the level of the stored grain or grain products, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer shall equip the employee with a body harness with lifeline, or a boatswain’s chair that meets the requirements of subpart D of this part. The lifeline shall be so positioned, and of sufficient length, to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain.
Exception: Where the employer can demonstrate that the protection required by this paragraph is not feasible or creates a more significant hazard, the employer shall provide an alternative means of security which is demonstrated to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not ensure employees were utilizing full body harnesses with attached retrieval lines prior to making entry inside of the grain bin that posed an engulfment hazard. Employees gained access to grain bin #6 from the side access door approximately 6′ above grade with the grain level at the access door. The bin contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans and had a buildup of 10-12 feet in depth of grain along portions of the bin walls. Employees caused the grain to flow to an open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee was engulfed by the flowing grain.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 4
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(3): The employer did not ensure an observer, equipped to provide assistance, shall be stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee. Communications (visual, voice, or signal line) shall be maintained between the observer and employee entering the bin, silo, or tank:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not ensure entrants were equipped with an observer located outside the grain bin while employees entered a grain bin that contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. There was a buildup of 10-12 feet of grain along portions of the bin walls. Entrants caused the grain to flow toward an open sump and operating drag conveyor. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee was engulfed by the flowing grain. Rescue operations were delayed because of the lack of an observer.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 5
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations which is specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations such as, but not limited to, coffer dam and/or a body harness with an attached retrieval line for employees prior to making entry into bin #6 which contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. A body harness and retrieval line was located inside the office at this location but not at the grain bin where entry was made. Employer’s coffer dam was located at an offsite location and not readily accessible. There was a buildup of 10-12 feet of grain around the interior sides of the bin. Entrants caused the grain to flow toward an open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee was engulfed by the flowing grain. The rescue was delayed because the equipment was not located at the bin nor were body harnesses and retrieval lines being utilized by entrants.
This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
Citation 2 Item 6
Type of Violation: Willful-Serious; $49,000
IAC 875 – Chapter 10 1910.272(g)(6): Employees shall not enter bins, silos, or tanks underneath a bridging condition, or where a buildup of grain products on the side could fall and bury them:
(a) Bin #6 – The employer did not ensure employees did not enter into a grain bin where there was a buildup of grain on the sides. Bin #6 contained approximately 21,000 bushels of soybeans. There was a buildup of 10-12 feet of soybeans along portions of the bin walls. Employees entered the bin to get the buildup of grain to start flowing toward an open sump. This activity resulted in a fatality when an employee became engulfed by the flowing grain. This was noted on or about 8/8/17.
PENALTY SUMMARY
Penalty Summary of Inspection Number: 1253154
Citation 1 Item 1a, Serious; $2500.00
Citation 1 Item 1b, Serious; $0.00
Citation 1 Item 2, Serious; $2500.00
Citation 1 Item 3, Serious; $2500.00
Citation 1 Item 4, Serious; $2500.00
Citation 1 Item 5, Serious; $2500.00
Citation 2 Item 1, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
Citation 2 Item 2, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
Citation 2 Item 3, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
Citation 2 Item 4, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
Citation 2 Item 5, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
Citation 2 Item 6, Willful-Serious; $49,000.00
TOTAL PENALTIES: $306,500.00
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