OSHA Inspection: GRAPHICS PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL INC

Issued

Dec 8, 2004

Abate by

Jan 5, 2005

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 hazard of:
a)  For the period of time up to and including 23 Aug 04, the employer did
not always
ensure that the interlocks and operating circuits on the elevator located
near the #7 Paper
Machine were in proper working order.
According to ASME A17.1-1996, "Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators",
Rule
111.3b(3), states that "The interlock shall lock the door in the closed
position before the
driving machine can be operated by the normal operating device..."
According to ASME A17.3-1996, "Safety Code for Existing Elevators and
Escalators",
Paragraph 2.7.1(b), "Interlocks required for Freight Elevators",  states
that
"Hoistway
doors or gates for freight elevators shall be equipped with hoistway-unit
system hoistway-
door interlocks."
According to ASME A17.3-1996, "Safety Code for Existing Elevators and
Escalators",
Paragraph 3.10.9, "Control and Operating Circuit Requirements", states
that "The failure
of any single magnetically operated switch, contactor or relay to release
in the intended
manner or the occurrence of a single accidental ground or combination or
accidental
grounds, shall not permit the car to start or run if any hoistway door
interlock is
unlocked or if any hoistway door or car door or gate electric contact is
not in the closed
position"
This condition exposed employees to the hazards and injuries related to
the elevator car
falling to lower levels during elevator loading operations where the car
would
unexpectedly not be present.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to:
1. Ensure that all elevator interlocks and control and operating circuits
are maintained
in proper working order at all times.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.

Issued

Dec 8, 2004

Abate by

Dec 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 hazard of:
a)  For the period of time up to and including 23 Aug 04, the employer did
not always
ensure that adequate lighting was provided within the car of the freight
elevator adjacent
to the #7 paper machine.
According to ASME A17.3, "Safety code for Existing Elevators and
Escalators",
Paragraph 3.4.5, "Car Illumination" states that "(a) Interiors of cars
shall be provided
with an electric light or lights. Not less than two lamps shall be
provided. (b) The
minimum illumination at the car threshold with the door closed, shall not
be less than:
(2) for freight elevators: 2.5 ftc (27 lx)."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to:
1) provide for in-plant maintenance to routinely check the lighting within
the elevators
and change out any burnt out or broken lamps.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.

Issued

Dec 8, 2004

Abate by

Jan 5, 2005

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 hazard of:
a)  For the period of time up to and including 23 Aug 04, the employer did
not always
ensure that the #7 Paper Machine Freight Elevator was properly inspected
and tested in
accordance with the requirements set forth in ASME A17.1-1996, "Safety
Code for
Elevators & Escalators".
According to Section 1001, "Routine Inspection and Tests of Passenger and
Freight
Electric Elevators"  Rule 1001.1 of the above referenced ASME standard,
"Inspection
and Test Periods", it states that "The routine inspections and tests of
passenger and
freight electric elevators shall be made at intervals not longer than 6
months". The
inspections and tests requirements are set in Rule 1001.2.
According to Section 1002, "Periodic Inspection and Tests of Passenger and
Freight
Electric Elevators"  Rule 1002.1 of the above referenced ASME standard,
"Inspection
and Test Periods", it states that "In addition to the routine inspection
and tests (Rule
1001.2), the inspections and tests specified in Rule 1002.2, "1 year
Inspection and Test
Requirements", shall be performed at intervals not longer than 1 year, and
the
inspections and tests specified in Rule 1002.3, "5 year Inspection and Test
Requirements", shall be made at intervals not longer than 5 years."
This condition exposed employees to the hazards and injuries related to
the
failure of the
various elevator car safety devices, interlocks, controls and operating
circuits, which may
result in the sudden and unexpected fall of the car itself, a distance of
25-30 ft.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to:
1. Properly conduct elevator inspections and tests as required by the ASME
standards by
individuals authorized to conduct such inspections and tests as defined in
Rule 1000.1 and
subsequent sections.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.

Issued

Dec 8, 2004

Abate by

Dec 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,575 Reduced