OSHA Inspection: ACME BRICK COMPANY

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Abate by

Apr 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,188 · Current $2,120 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:      a)  On or about November 16, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fall hazards of greater than 4 feet when they worked from the rumbler feeder platform because the sides of the platform were not equipped with standard railings.      b)  On or about November 16, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fall hazards of greater than 4 feet when they worked from and stood on a platform at the end of the monorail packaging line which was not equipped with standard railings.    c)  On or about November 16, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fall hazards of greater than 4 feet when they accessed the platform where lime and other additives were kept because the front of the platform was not equipped with standard railings.

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Abate by

Apr 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1):  Every flight of stairs having four or more risers was not equipped with standard stair railings or standard handrails as specified in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of this section:      a)  On or about November 16, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fall hazards while they used the staircase leading to the monorail platform because it was not equipped with standard railings on both sides.

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Abate by

May 22, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii):  When an energy isolating device was capable of being locked out, the employers energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section did not utilize lockout:    a)  On or about November 16, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to caught-in injuries because the employer did not ensure that the employee operating the brick strap/packaging table at the rumbler shut off and locked out the unit before adjusting the retrax.  Without locking out the power, there could be potential for unexpected startup of the pusher mechanism.

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Abate by

May 22, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,990 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) with defect(s) or in any way unsafe had not been withdrawn from service until restored to safe operating condition(s):                                               a)  On or about November 16, 2012, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by injuries while they operated three Caterpillar forklifts which had severely worn hydraulic lines.

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1):  Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:    a)  On or about November 16, 2011, employees were exposed to electrical shock and fire hazards because the employer did not maintain sufficient working space around a knife switch box and allowed two dust collector socks to be stored on top of the box.

Issued

Apr 10, 2012

Abate by

May 22, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e):  To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls were not implemented whenever feasible:    a)  On or about February 16, 2011, and at times prior, an employee sawing bricks was exposed to respirable dust containing silica at levels above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).  The employer had not implemented and maintained feasible administrative or engineering controls to achieve compliance with the PEL.  On or about February 16, 2012, an employee was exposed to respirable dust containing 9.5% silica at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 1.036 mg/m3, which was approximately 1.19 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of .870 mg/m3.  Sampling was conducted on February 16, 2012, for 378 minutes.  The calculation assumed zero exposure for the unsampled portion of the shift.