At 4:45 p.m. on August 14, 2015, Employee #1, a maintenance worker, was lowered into a 12-foot tall 8,000-gallon polyethylene tank using a rope with a loop to stand on and the other end connected to a rough terrain forklift operated by the manager of the farm. The tank was used to store liquid whey added to the animal feed. Employee #1 was instructed to open a broken ball valve so the liquid whey would flow faster out of the tank. Employee #1 lost consciousness and was found face-down in the tank by the manager. Employee #1 was asphyxiated and died due to a low oxygen environment and probable high concentrations of fermentation gases.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 6 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Current Violations | 6 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Initial Penalty | $27,300 | $0 | $0 | $700 | $28,000 |
| Current Penalty | $24,300 | $0 | $0 | $700 | $25,000 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | Contest | Latest Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 5A0001 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $4,000 | $4,900 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 5A0001 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $7,000 | $7,000 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01003A | Serious | 19101200 E01 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $3,100 | $3,500 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 4. | 01003B | Serious | 19101200 F06 | 01/15/2016 | 02/01/2016 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 5. | 01003C | Serious | 19101200 G08 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 6. | 01003D | Serious | 19101200 H01 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 7. | 01004 | Serious | 19280051 B02 I A | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $3,100 | $3,500 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 8. | 01005 | Serious | 19280057 A06 | 01/15/2016 | 03/08/2016 | $4,000 | $4,900 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 9. | 01006 | Serious | 19280057 C02 I | 01/15/2016 | 02/08/2016 | $3,100 | $3,500 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 10. | 02001 | Other | 19040004 A | 01/15/2016 | $700 | $700 | I – Informal Settlement | ||
| 11. | 02002 | Other | 19280051 D | 01/15/2016 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement |
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1085311.015
