OSHA Inspection: HOBBS BONDED FIBERS INC

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Being struck by and/or caught in a damaged feed apron.
(a)On or about 2/11/05 in the Line 8 Area:  Employees were potentially
exposed to being
struck by and/or caught in the exposed ends of metal lacings and/or the
damaged belt of
a feed apron for a shredder machine for which no regular inspection
program had been
developed and implemented.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to develop and
implement an inspection program in accordance with the American National
Standards Institute
ANSI L1.1, Safety and Health Requirements for the Textile Industry.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description of how these
steps protect its employees from damaged feed aprons.

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
A fall of up to 12 feet at the loading and unloading areas for belt
conveyors.  Employees in
these areas were not protected by a guard or barrier, and warning signs
were not provided to
restrict unauthorized personnel from entering the areas.
(a)On or about 2/11/05 at the belt conveyor loading and unloading area on
the south side
of the Upstairs Shipping Area on the 2nd floor:  Employees working in the
area were
potentially exposed to a fall through an unguarded floor opening and down
a conveyor
belt from the second floor to the first floor, a distance of approximately
12 feet.  No
warning signs were provided.
(b)On or about 2/11/05 at the belt conveyor loading and unloading area on
the north side
of the Upstairs Shipping Area on the 2nd floor:  Employees working in the
area were
potentially exposed to a fall through an unguarded floor opening and down
a conveyor
belt from the second floor to the first floor, a distance of approximately
12 feet.  No
warning signs were provided.
Among other methods, two feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard are to (1) provide
a guard or barrier to protect personnel or (2) provide warning signs in
accordance with the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) ASME B20.1, Safety
Standard for
Conveyors and Related Equipment.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description of how these
steps protect its employees from falling into conveyor openings.

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Being struck by a falling master card plate.
(a)On or about 2/11/05 in the Line 2 Area:  The employer had not developed
and
implemented a preventive maintenance program for the Columbus McKinnon
ShopStar
electric chain hoist which was used to lift master card plates weighing
approximately 150
to 175 pounds.  Employees were potentially exposed to being struck by a
falling master
card plate.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to institute a
hoist inspection program in accordance with the hoist manufacturer's
recommendations and the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) ASME B30.16, Overhead
Hoists
(Underhung).
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description of how these
steps protect its employees from injury as a result of hoist failure.s

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized
hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Smoke inhalation and burns due to improper use and storage of combustible
liquid:
(a)On or about 2/10/05 in the Maintenance Area, the lid on the Safety
Kleen Model 23
Cyclonic Parts Washer which contained Safety Kleen Premium Solvent, a
combustible
liquid, was prevented from automatically closing due to temporary storage
of an
electrical cord which was looped around one corner of the lid.  Employees
were
potentially exposed to smoke inhalation and burns due to failure of the
lid to close
automatically in the event of a fire in the sink of the parts washer.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to comply with
the manufacturer's Safe Use Instructions (Item 2) in the Operating
Procedures of the Operator's
Booklet for the parts washer.
(b)On or about 2/10/05 and again on or about 4/21/05 in the Maintenance
Area, the lid on
the Safety Kleen Model 23 Cyclonic Parts Washer which contained Safety
Kleen
Premium Solvent, a combustible liquid, was not closed when the parts
washer was not
in use.  Employees were potentially exposed to smoke inhalation and burns
in the event
that an ignition source was introduced into the sink containing wet parts
and/or residual
solvent.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to comply with
the manufacturer's Safe Use Instructions (Item 16) in the Operating
Procedures of the Operator's
Booklet for the parts washer.
(c)On or about 4/21/05 in the Maintenance Area, the Safety Kleen Model 23
Cyclonic Parts
Washer which contained Safety Kleen Premium Solvent, a combustible liquid,
was
located in close proximity to an ignition source, the abrasive wheel of a
bench grinder
used to sharpen slitter blades.  Employees were potentially exposed to
smoke inhalation
and burns in the event that an ignition source was introduced into the
sink containing wet
parts and/or residual solvent.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to comply with
the manufacturer's Safe Use Instructions (Item 1) in the Operating
Procedures of the Operator's
Booklet for the parts washer.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description of how these
steps protect its employees from hazards associated with the use of the
parts washer.ted

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Smoke inhalation and burns due to inoperable, horizontally-sliding, fire
doors:
(a)On or about 2/10/05, a horizontally-sliding fire door was obstructed
from closing by
stacked bales of material which were resting against the door.  The door
was located in
the northeast corner of the Resin Bulk Tank Area.  Employees were
potentially exposed
to smoke inhalation and burns in the event of a rapidly spreading fire.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is comply with
Chapter 15 Paragraph 15-2.3 (Prevention of Door Blockage) of the National
Fire Protection
Association NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows.
(b)On or about 2/10/05 and again on or about 4/21/05, the automatic
closing devices for
four horizontally-sliding fire doors were disabled, and there was no
annual inspection and
testing program to check for proper operation and full closure.  The fire
doors were
located (1) in the northeast corner of the Resin Bulk Tank Area, (2) at
the south end of
the Resin Bulk Tank area, (3) in the northwest corner of the Line 4 Area,
and (4) in the
northeast corner of the Line 4 Area.  Employees were potentially exposed
to smoke
inhalation and burns in the event of a rapidly spreading fire.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard
is comply with
Chapter 15 Paragraph 15-2.4 (Maintenance of Closing Mechanisms) of the
National Fire
Protection Association NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows.
(c)On or about 2/10/05, combustible material was stored against a
horizontally-sliding fire
door.  The fire door was located in the northeast corner of the Resin Bulk
Tank Area.
Employees were potentially exposed to smoke inhalation or burns in the
event of a
rapidly spreading fire.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is comply with
Chapter 15 Paragraph 15-2.6 (Fire Prevention) of the National Fire
Protection Association
NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within
25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description of how these
steps protect its employees from the hazards associated with inoperable,
horizontally-sliding, firedoors.ly-sliding,

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
Being crushed in a stationary compactor in the event of inadvertent
activation as a result of
inoperable security switches.   A program of periodic and regular
inspections to ensure that
stationary compactors were in safe operating condition had not been
developed and implemented.
(a)On or about 2/10/05 in the Compacting Area:  Employees used a
stationary compactor
owned by Waste Management to compact cardboard.  The key-lock on-off
switch was
locked in the ON position by a key which had been broken off in the switch.
(b)On or about 2/10/05 in the Compacting Area:  Employees used an Octamag
2 stationary
compactor owned by the employer to compact trash.  The key-lock on-off
switch was
locked in the ON position by a key which has been broken off in the switch.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means to abate this
hazard is to develop and
implement a program of periodic and regular inspections to ensure that
stationary compactors
are in safe operating condition in accordance with the manufacturer's
recommendations and the
American National Standards Institute ANSI Z245.2, Stationary
Compactors-Safety
Requirements for Installation, Maintenance, and Operation.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 25 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure compliance, including a
description
of how these
steps protect its employees from the hazards associated with defective
stationary compactors.

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 2, 2005

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 19, 2005

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Aug 15, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $56,000 · Current $28,000 Reduced

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $56,000

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Issued

Aug 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 26, 2005

Penalty

Initial $56,000