Milling facility exposed workers to explosion and electrical hazards

Employer Name: Richardson Milling Inc.

Location: Dawn, Texas

Date Inspection Initiated and What Prompted the Inspection: The inspection, initiated in October as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Regional Emphasis Program for industries engaged in grain handling activities, has resulted in the issuance of 11 serious violations.

Investigation Findings: The investigation by OSHA's Lubbock Area Office resulted in citations for failing to:

• use approved electrical equipment in areas with dangerous levels of combustible dust;
• remove an unapproved forklift truck whose exposed conductor cables could potentially ignite combustible dust;
• secure compressed gas cylinders to prevent them from being knocked over; and
• properly guard belts and pulleys to prevent amputations.

A serious violation occurs 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.

Proposed Penalties: $63,000

Quote: "Allowing grain milling dust to accumulate near equipment that could start an explosion is a recipe for disaster," said Elizabeth Linda Routh, OSHA's area director in Lubbock. "Richardson Milling exposed its workers to preventable dangers."

Information: Richardson Milling, a grain milling facility that produces flour blends, has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Lubbock District Office at 806-472-7681.