The Andersons, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Mar 6, 2012: Employee is crushed by a fabric bulk container.

At approximately 5:15 am on March 6, 2012, Employee #1 was moving a bulk fabric container (super sack) of raw material and placed it on a wood pallet with a fork truck. Numerous bulk fabric containers, which were stacked three high, were stored in the area. While Employee #1 was moving the container, the pallet end ripped the bottom bag of an adjacent stack. The material was released from the ripped bag and spilled on to the floor. As the bag emptied, the triple stacked bags became unstable. Each container contained approximately 1,500 pounds of material. Employee #1 saw the ripped bag, and attempted to seal the rip with tape to prevent the release of the material. Employee #1 was kneeling/bending down next to the bottom container of the stack just as the stack tipped over. The second and third layers fell and landed on the Employee #1. There were no witnesses to the accident. Employee #1 was working alone in the storage area and two coworkers who were in adjacent rooms did not see the accident. After approximately 15 minutes, the team leader realized that Employee #1 was absent from the work area and conducted a search. The coworkers discovered Employee #1 buried under the sacks, they quickly removed the sacks and spilled material from on top of Employee #1 and called emergency medical services. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital and treated for anoxia and crush injuries.

Incident on Jun 19, 2008: Employee receives burn from fire while welding

On June 19, 2008, an employee was conducting flex core welding on a plate at the top of a four compartment rail car. The rail car was located inside a building designated for repairing rail cars. While the welding, a flash fire or explosion occurred, originating from inside the adjacent hopper of the car. At the time o f the explosion, a cutting torch was hanging inside the hopper from its hoses. T he connection between the oxygen hoses was leaking oxygen which probably contrib uted to the fire. The employee received burns on arm and other parts of the body and was hospitalized.

Incident on Nov 3, 2006 (fatal): Employee is engulfed by grain spilling from silo door

At approximately 12:00 p.m. On November 3, 2006, Employee #1 was assisting two other workers that had encountered difficulty removing the rusted bolts on a sil o door. After Employee #1 removed the last bolt from the door using an impact wr ench, wheat pushed the silo door open, flowed from the silo opening, and engulfe d Employee #1. The grain silo had a capacity of 480,000 bushels of wheat. Three hours after the incident occurred, the wheat level in the silo appeared to be ap proximately 5 ft above the top of the access door that Employee #1 had been remo ving. The weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of sunny clea r skies and did not likely contribute to the accident.

Incident on Jul 1, 2005: Explosion occurs at grain elevator facility

At approximately 3:35 p.m. on July 1, 2005, an explosion occurred at The Anderso ns Inc. grain elevator facility located in Toledo, Ohio. The loss of property an d produce is estimated at 25 million dollars, as well as an estimated 1 year to rebuild the damaged components of the facility. There were no injuries reported as the work shift had ended at 3:00 p.m. and no employees were on the site. The source of the fire/explosion could not be confirmed due to the extensive damage resulting from the explosion.

Incident on May 6, 1998 (fatal): Employee dies from falling into a fertilizer clump breaker

Employee #1 died after falling into a fertilizer clump breaker. Apparently, the urea auger was not guarded to prevent accidental contact with the point of opera tion.

Incident on Jul 21, 1993 (fatal): Employee killed when crushed by section of conveyor

To adjust the belt on the idler pulley of a large belt conveyor, the belt tensin g counterweight was lifted and supported on the extension boom of a forklift tru ck. Employee #1 cut the bolts on the support for the idler pulley. The counterwe ight fell from the boom, causing the angle iron pulley support to be pulled up a nd strike the top of the enclosure. Employee #1 was carried with it and his ches t was crushed against the top of the enclosure. He died.

Incident on Sep 6, 1985: Tote box fell on employee's arm

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS GOING TO PULL SAND FROM A TOTE BOX, WHICH IS PART OF HIS CLASSIF ICATION. HE STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE BOX WITH HIS FIST. THINKING THAT THE BOX WAS EMPTY, HE STARTED TO WALK PAST IT. THE BOX BRUSHED HIS SHOULDER, KNOCKING HIM DO WN AND PINNING HIS RIGHT ARM TO THE GROUND. HIS ARM WAS AMPUTATED 3 INCHES BELOW THE ELBOW. THE ARM WAS LATER SURGICALLY REATTACHED. THE TOTE BOX WEIGHED 2640 P OUNDS AND MEASURED 54 INCHES BY 54 INCHES X 56 1/2 INCHES HIGH. IT SAT ON A META L TABLE 34 1/2 INCHES HIGH. THE TOTE BOX SITS BESIDE SOME TRAIN TRACKS AT AN OUT SIDE LOCATION. THE SAND IN THE TOTE BOX IS USED ON THE TRACKS FOR TRACTION.

Incident on Jan 29, 1985 (fatal): Heart attack

ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS WORKING AT HIS REGULARLY ASSIGNED DU TIES AS AN ELECTRICIAN. HE WAS LAST SEEN LEAVING THE BASEMENT AREA OF THE GRAIN ELEVATOR. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS FOUND BY A FELLOW WORKER ABOUT 4 TO 5 MINUTES LATER LY ING ON A LANDING OF THE STAIRWAY. NO BRUISES WERE FOUND ON THE BODY -- THE MOST EMPLOYEE #1 COULD HAVE FALLEN WAS ABOUT 5 STEPS. VENTICULAR FIBRILLATION BY NORM AL CAUSES WAS LISTED AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH AFTER AN AUTOPSY BY THE CORONER.