OSHA cites Martell, Nebraska, feed mill for grain handling hazards

Employer name: Midwest Farmers Cooperative

Inspection site: 17700 South 1^st St., Martell, Nebraska

Citations issued: Feb. 11, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Omaha area office cited Midwest Farmers Cooperative for three repeat and three serious safety violations.

OSHA opened an investigation of the Martell feed mill under the Grain Handling Industry Local Emphasis Program. The program focuses on the grain and feed industry’s six major hazards: engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, “struck by,” combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazards.

Inspectors found:

• Workers exposed to fall hazards because stairwells, ladders, pits and bins lacked adequate guardrails.
• Pulleys on augers and horizontal belts lacked guarding to prevent workers from coming in contact with operating parts.
• Excessive grain dust accumulations exposing workers to respiratory and explosive dust hazards.

Quote: “Allowing excessive levels of dust to accumulate and failing to ensure elevated work areas and equipment are properly guarded to protect workers from falls is unacceptable,” said Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in Omaha. “Complying with OSHA standards protect workers from injury and death on the job.”

Proposed Penalties: $56,430

View Citations here.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, 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 Omaha Area Office at 402-553-0171.