OSHA Cites Grain Storage Company for 35 Safety Violations, Over $100,000 in Fines Proposed
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Monday, April 6, 2009 |
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The
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has cited Victoria-Calhoun Grain Co., following a
worker's fatality, with three alleged willful and 32 serious violations
of safety standards at the company's facility in Placedo.
"Employers
must ensure employees are fully trained and protected from all
hazardous conditions in and around grain storage units," said Michael
Rivera, OSHA's area director in Corpus Christi, Texas. "In this case,
the employee was walking on top of the grain using a pole to loosen it.
When the grain collapsed beneath him, he became engulfed and
suffocated."
OSHA's Corpus Christi Area Office began its
investigation Oct. 1, 2008, at the company's facility on Main Street in
Placedo. The investigation found willful violations including failing
to provide lockout/tagout safeguards during confined space entry and
failing to provide workers with personal protective equipment. OSHA
defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional disregard
of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act.
Serious violations include failing to
train employees about hazardous conditions associated with grain
storage facilities and confined space entry, to ensure that floor
openings holes were properly guarded and to implement a respiratory
protection program. A serious citation is issued when there is
substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could
result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Victoria-Calhoun
Grain, which employs about 25 workers at its Placedo location, is an
agricultural storage facility engaged in buying, receiving and
marketing grain, such as corn, sorghum and oats, from farmers.
OSHA
has proposed $109,050 in penalties against the company for the safety
violations. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the
citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area
director in Corpus Christi or contest the citations and proposed
penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review
Commission.
Corpus Christi employers and employees with
questions about safety and health can call 361-888-3420. They can also
use OSHA's hotline number at 800-321-6742 to report workplace
accidents, fatalities or imminent dangers.
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