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

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(ii): Each employee was not protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that was less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems: a) Western Sugar Cooperative located at 18317 highway 144, Fort Morgan, CO 80701: On and preceding March 7, 2019, the employer did not ensure that each employee was protected from tripping into or stepping into or through holes located on the walking surfaces throughout the facility. The floors in the facility have drains that range from 2-6 inches in diameter. Throughout the production area, floor drains had covers missing which created holes up to 6 inches that employees could step into causing them to trip. Floor holes during the walk-around include but were not limited to a 4 inch by 4 inch hole on the south end of boiler #2, two 5 inch diameter floor holes in the 2nd carb area, 2 inch and 4 inch floor holes on the second floor near the sock filter. Many of the floor holes were near moving machinery, hot water and other areas which present a hazard if an employee were to fall into the space. These conditions exposed employees to tripping hazards, burns and potential caught-in hazards.