The Wisconsin-based grain handling facility was cited for six serious and two willful safety violations, including engulfment dangers, in the recently sent report, said OSHA officials.
"Sending workers into a grain bin with the auger moving is extremely dangerous," said Ann Grevenkamp, OSHA's area director in Madison in a release. "Duffy Grain knows the precautions that needed to be taken to protect its workers, but failed in their responsibility to follow them. Someone's life and well-being should never be the cost of doing business."
The company runs a grain elevator and trucking service that handles grain, feed, feed ingredients and other agricultural products. Company officials said they are planning to work with OSHA to address the comments.
“As a long time employer and service provider to the area, worker safety is a priority at Duffy Grain,” said Ryan Duffy, vice president and safety manager at the grain handler. “No employee was injured nor directed to act in an unsafe manner. Our intention is to proactively work with OSHA to quickly put this matter to rest. At Duffy Grain, we partner with our employees on a daily basis to keep them, our customers and our facilities safe.”
Violation details
The serious violations noted in the report included concerns about air quality, the guards on pulleys and conveyer belts and engulfment risks, said officials with OSHA.
“Employee(s) entered grain bins from a level above the level of stored grain and stood in the stored grain that posed an engulfment hazard without a body harness with lifeline or boatswain’s chair,” they said. Observers were not located outside of grain bins when other employees were inside and rescue equipment was not provided, they added.
There also was a concern for unchecked respiratory hazards and grain dust, they said. “The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants chemical state and physical form,” said OSHA.
“During the period between September 21, 2015 and February 8, 2016: the atmosphere within grain bins was not being tested for oxygen content prior to employee entries,” they said.
The company also was cited for not adequately guarding pulley systems when employees entered a grain bin, they said, and, for not guarding the energized sweep auger drive belts when employees were in a grain bin.
The ‘willful’ violations included that entry permits were not issued for all grain bin entries, said officials, and that equipment like sweep augers and reclaim conveyors/augers were not locked out or de-energized before employees went into grain bins.
“The employer did not prohibit employees from working in moving grain,” they said.
What’s next?
The company has a period of time to contest the citations or correct the noted issues and pay the fines, said OSHA officials. Copies of the citations have to be posted at the location of every listed violation.
Company officials also have the option of setting an informal meeting with OSHA to discuss the violations raised in the citation.