As Bartlett Grain Company in Atchison begins their next chapter in rebuilding, they have been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor and face more 400 thousand dollars in proposed fines for violations at  their old elevator as the result of a fatal grain elevator explosion last fall.

 The issuance came down today (Thursday) from the Department of Labor.

 The investigation from OSHA began immediately on October 30th after a grain elevator explosion the night prior took the lives of six men and severely injured two others.

 OSHA documents say the investigation concluded on April 6th.

 Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis says “The deaths of these six workers could have been prevented had the grain elevator’s operators addressed hazards that are well known in this industry.”

 She further stated “Bartlett Grain’s disregard for the law led to a catastrophic accident and heartbreaking tragedy for the workers who were injured or killed, their families and the agricultural community.”

 Bartlett was given 350 thousand dollars in proposed fines for five willful violations.

 OSHA Investigators say from those violations operators allowed explosive grain dust to accumulate, used compressed air to remove dust without first shutting down ignition sources, repeatedly started and stopped inside bucket elevators to free legs choked by grain, used electrical equipment inappropriate for the working environment and failed to require employees to use fall protection when working from heights.

 The documents say each carry a 70 thousand dollar proposed fine and that four of the five violations must be abated by May 7th and one of them by May 1st.

 The serious violations involve a lack of proper preventive maintenance, certification and lubrication of grain handling equipment; inadequate emergency action plan training for employees and contractors; a lack of employee and contractor training on job hazards; and a housekeeping program that was deficient because it did not prevent grain dust accumulations.

 Those eight citations carry seven thousand dollars in proposed fines with six of them carrying an abatement date of May 16th and two May the 7th.

 Topeka's Kansas Grain Inspection Services, a contractor employed by Bartlett Grain, is being cited for not providing fall protection for employees who work on the top of rail cars, a lack of a hazardous communication program and not giving basic information about respirators to employees.

 The three citations total 67 thousand 500 dollars in proposed fines.

 The serious fine carries a 45 hundred dollar proposed fine that must be abated by May 14th. The willful fine must be abated by May 7th.

 Their inspection period ran from October 30th through December 14th.

 The elevator was damaged severe enough in the explosion to force Bartlett to demolish it earlier this year and recently received approval from the City of Atchison to rebuild the elevator. 

 Here is the link to the OSHA Citaion Documents for Bartlett: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Bartlett_issued_04122012.pdf

 Here is the link to the OSHA Citation Documents for Kansas Grain Inspection Services: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/KGIS_issued_04122012.pdf

Here is a link to Bartlett's response to the ciatations: http://www.bartlettandco.com/viewNews!details.do?newsArticle.id=67