Region 6 News Release: 12-1166-DAL
June 28, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Todd
Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710
FREE 972-850-4710
972-850-4709
FREE 972-8504709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov
rodriguez.juan@dol.gov
US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes $45,000 in fines to
Southwest Feed Mills for safety hazards at Dallas grain handling facility
DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited
Southwest Feed Mills Inc. with 12 serious safety violations for exposing workers to combustible dust,
falls, unguarded machines and other hazards at the company's Dallas facility. A December 2011
inspection was initiated as part of OSHA's Regional Emphasis Program on Grain Handling Facilities.
Proposed penalties total $45,000.
The violations include failing to provide fall protection equipment, train workers on the use of powered
industrial trucks, ensure that moving machinery parts are guarded, ensure receiving-pit feed openings
are covered by grates to prevent workers from falling into the pit, ensure that the bucket elevator is
not jogged to prevent igniting combustible materials, ensure that electrical equipment is approved for
locations containing combustible dust, implement a housekeeping program to control combustible dust
and develop confined space procedures. 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.
"Excessive amounts of fugitive grain dust at this grain handling facility expose workers to possible fires
and explosions," said Stephen Boyd, director of OSHA's Dallas Area Office. "These violations
demonstrate the company's lax attitude toward protecting its workers from serious injuries at this
facility. Employers must provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees."
OSHA's regional emphasis programs are intended to address hazards or industries that pose a risk to
workers in a particular jurisdiction. The grain handling industry is a high-hazard industry in which
workers can be exposed to many serious and life-threatening hazards. These include fires and
explosions from grain dust accumulation, suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins,
falls from heights, and crushing injuries and amputations from equipment. More information on grain
handling facilities is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html.
Southwest Feed Mills, which employs about nine workers who handle and manufacture a wide variety
of animal feed, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal
conference with OSHA's Dallas area director or contest the citations and penalties before the
independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.