Company fined $720,000 for worker trapped in frozen soybeans

[Enrique]

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/2010/08/06/112251.htm

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines of $721,000 against Cooperative Plus Inc. in Burlington, Wis., for violations of federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA alleges that this employer, a farmer owned cooperative, exposed workers to the risk of being engulfed and suffocated in grain storage bins without proper equipment and procedures.

In a near tragedy that occurred in February, a worker was trapped in soybeans up to his chest in 25 degree weather and ultimately rescued after a four hour ordeal.

"Cooperative Plus ignored long established safety standards for working safely in grain handling operations and knowingly exposed workers to possible suffocation. In this case, a worker almost died," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Disregarding well-recognized standards places workers in this industry in serious danger and will not be tolerated."

Based on its investigation of the Cooperative Plus incident, OSHA has cited that employer for 10 willful violations. Two per-instance willful violations are for failing to provide workers entering grain storage bins with body harnesses and lifelines and to provide an observer while other workers entered the grain bins. A citation has been issued for each bin entry OSHA documented in which the employer failed to observe these requirements.

(...)

[senseandsensibility]

1. k an r

I'm glad the worker was rescued.