The Kansas-based agribusiness has about 330 employees, 32 locations throughout Kansas and handles products including animal feed and grain. The company’s Quinter location has 19 employees and was the subject of the inspection.
Violations listed in the report included potential explosion hazards and fall risks, said officials with OSHA.
“The grain handling industry is a high-hazard industry where workers can be exposed to numerous serious and life-threatening hazards,” said Judy Freeman, OSHA's area director in Wichita. “Frontier Ag needs to reevaluate its housekeeping plan for grain dust removal and make immediate improvements to protect workers on the job.”
Safety risk details
The citation included three ‘serious’ violations found at the site, said OSHA officials. These included two findings regarding fall risks as there were questions about railings.
“Employees engaged in grain handling activities were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 15 feet from the head house/distributer floor catwalk to the lower level in that a portion of the catwalk was not equipped with a standard railing,” said officials.
Another violation listed was grain dust, as it can be a fire and explosion hazard, they said. In the boot pit, dust was found to be 11.5 inches.
Additionally, there were two repeat violations found regarding the housekeeping program and about railings in multiple locations, including on the rail load out platform, the exits of the east and west annexes, and the opening to the head house/distributer floor catwalk, they said.
“Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening,” they said.
Similar issues were reportedly seen in another company facility, said officials. The violations and fines were set after an inspection of the facility in October.
What’s next?
The company had a response window for the citations where it could contest the nature of the report, said officials with OSHA. There also was a period to set an informal conference to discuss the report.
“During such an informal conference you may present any evidence or views which you believe would support an adjustment to the citation(s) and/or penalty(ies),” they said. Participants are also asked to bring any documentation related to abatement steps that have been taken.
To address any violation not contested, the company has to file abatement certification by a set time, they said.
Company representatives did not return requests for comment.