Cotton Center Farmers Co-Op Gin | Occupational Safety and Health Administration osha.gov

Violation Detail

Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph

Inspection Nr: 312473663

Citation: 01001

Citation Type: Serious

Abatement Date: 03/10/2009 I

Initial Penalty: $2,500.00

Current Penalty: $1,500.00

Issuance Date: 03/05/2009

Nr Instances: 4

Nr Exposed: 3

Related Event Code (REC): A

Gravity: 10

Report ID: 0627400

Contest Date:

Final Order:

Emphasis:

**Penalty and Failure to Abate Event History**
Type	Latest Event	Event Date	Penalty	Abatement Due Date	Citation Type	Failure to Abate Inspection
Penalty	I: Informal Settlement	03/24/2009	$1,500.00	03/10/2009	Serious
Penalty	Z: Issued	03/05/2009	$2,500.00	03/10/2009	Serious

Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the condition(s) listed below: On December 10, 2008, and for a period of time prior to that date, employees at the Cotton Center Co-Op Gin were exposed to the hazard of ignition of combustible fibers and flyings, in the form of cotton lint, by electrical equipment that did not comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC): a) An electrical box on the north side of the south bale press had a series of unstopped holes in the base, which permitted cotton lint to accumulate inside the box. This did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1): "All boxes and fittings shall be dusttight." b) An electrical box in the press pit for the south bale press was missing the front cover entirely, allowing cotton lint to cover all the wiring inside the box and enter the conduit attached to it. This did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1): "All boxes and fittings shall be dusttight." c) A conduit body and attached electrical box on the floor adjacent to the east side of the south bale press had uncovered openings, which permitted cotton lint to accumulate inside the box and to enter the conduit. This did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(1): "All boxes and fittings shall be dusttight." d) A flexible wire connected to a valve control on the east side of the south bale press had the outer insulation pulled loose from the connector on the control. This compromised the integrity of the seal and did not comply with NEC Article 503.10, (A)(2): "Where necessary to employ flexible connections, dusttight flexible connectors, liquidtight flexible metal conduit with listed fittings, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit with listed fittings, or flexible cord in comformance with 503.140 shall be used." One reasonable and effective form of abatement would be to effectively seal the openings in the electrical boxes and replace or repair the flexible wire connection, in the instances noted above.

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