OSHA Inspection: DONALD R. KLEINE

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained, so far as possible, in a clean condition:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, PA, 16101- On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto,  personnel were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards due to the accumulation of oil soaked wood saw dust and paper "fluff" material, from crushed oil filters, located on floor near Mega-Crusher machine and throughout the shop.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): A representative monitoring program was not developed when information indicated that an employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- Company had neither developed a noise monitoring program nor conducted noise monitoring for employees potentially exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto, Ametek MK-2 noise dosimeters were place on two (2) employees in the production area.  The dosimeters were allowed to run for 402 and 404 minutes, respectively.  The equivalent 8-hour doses were 283% and 116.6%, and the 8-hour time-weighted exposures were 98.7 decibels and 92 decibels, respectively.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): An audiometric testing program was not established and maintained for all employees whose noise exposure equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:      a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- Company had neither developed a noise monitoring program nor conducted noise monitoring for employees potentially exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto, Ametek MK-2 noise dosimeters were place on two (2) employees in the production area.  The dosimeters were allowed to run for 402 and 404 minutes, respectively.  The equivalent 8-hour doses were 283% and 116.6%, and the 8-hour time-weighted exposures were 98.7 decibels and 92 decibels, respectively.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): A training program was not instituted for each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- Company had neither developed a noise monitoring program nor conducted noise monitoring for employees potentially exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto, Ametek MK-2 noise dosimeters were place on two (2) employees in the production area.  The dosimeters were allowed to run for 402 and 404 minutes, respectively.  The equivalent 8-hour doses were 283% and 116.6%, and the 8-hour time-weighted exposures were 98.7 decibels and 92 decibels, respectively.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1):     The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces.     a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about April 30th 2012, and times prior thereto: Employees entered the conveyor pit to perform repairs to the conveyor and to the pit pump.  The company had not identified the conveyor pit as a permit required confined space.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about April 30th 2012, and times prior thereto: Permit-required confined spaces including, but not limited to, the conveyor pit, was not properly labeled.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section and ensure that the written program was available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about April 30th 2012, and times prior thereto:  Employees entered the conveyor pit to perform repairs to the conveyor and to the pit pump.  The company had not developed a written program for permit-required confined space entry.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a.)  Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto:  Company employees work with and around various types of corrosive chemicals including, but not limited to, battery acid.  A plumbed emergency eye wash unit located on the south side of the shop floor was available, but was not inspected on a weekly basis, and the path to the eye wash station was not free from obstructions, as required by ANSI Z358.1-1998 (section 5.5.2, and 5.4.4 respectively) for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment:    1.  Weekly inspections of the equipment were not conducted. The emergency eyewash unit was not activated weekly to verify proper operation.  2.  For strong acid or strong caustic, the eyewash should be immediately adjacent to the hazard and the path of travel shall be free of obstructions that may inhibit the immediate use of the equipment.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1):  Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:      a.)  Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th , 2012, and times prior thereto:  Main transformer area- A dry chemical ABC type fire extinguisher was not mounted on the wall or similar fixture in the main transformer area.  The main transformer area is on the north side of the shop floor.  The extinguisher was set on the floor next to the main transformer.      b.) Gear Oil area- A dry chemical ABC type fire extinguisher was not mounted on the wall or similar fixture in the gear oiling area.  The gear oil area is located on the southeast side of the Mega Crusher.  The extinguisher was set on the floor near the gear oil area.         c.) Center of shop floor- A dry chemical ABC type fire extinguisher was not mounted on the wall or similar fixture in center of the shop floor.  The fire extinguisher was on the floor directly next to an I beam directly between the oil pit and the Mega Crusher.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4):  Portable fire extinguishers were not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th , 2012, and times prior thereto:  The company distributed dry chemical fire extinguishers, type ABC, throughout the facility for the purpose of extinguishing incipient stage fires.  The pressure gauge on the fire extinguisher including, but not limited to, the unit mounted on the north side of the shop floor next to the main transformer indicated a need for a re-charge.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2):  Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:      a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th , 2012, and times prior thereto:  The company distributed dry chemical fire extinguishers, type ABC, throughout the facility for the purpose of extinguishing incipient stage fires.  The Company did not conduct monthly inspections of the fire extinguishers, which was determined by the fact that the areas for documenting monthly inspections on the tags attached to the extinguishers had not been filled out since 2011.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3):  Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:    a.)  Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th, 2012, and times prior thereto:  Gear Oil area- A dry chemical ABC type fire extinguisher was located on the southeast side of the Mega Crusher.  The tags on the fire extinguishers indicated the last annual maintenance check occurred in January 2011.    b.)  Main transformer area- A dry chemical ABC type fire extinguisher was located on the north side of the shop floor next to the main transformer.  The tags on the fire extinguishers indicated the last annual maintenance check occurred in January 2011.    c.)  Railcar track area -A carbon dioxide BC type fire extinguisher was located on the west side of the shop floor directly next to the railcar track area.  The tags on the fire extinguishers indicated the last annual maintenance check occurred in November 2010.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th, 2012, and times prior thereto:  Company employees were working with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, Altra brand gear oil, Auto Zone brake cleaners, used crank case oil from various used oil filters of unknown origin, oil soaked wood saw dust, paper fluff material from crushed oil filters, and acetylene and oxygen compressed gases.  A written Hazard Communication Program had not been developed.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employers did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area and chemical-specific information was not always available through labels and material safety data sheets.    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th, 2012, and times prior thereto:  Company employees were working with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, Altra brand gear oil, Auto Zone brake cleaners, used crank case oil from various used oil filters of unknown origin, oil soaked wood saw dust, paper fluff material from crushed oil filters, and acetylene and oxygen compressed gases.  Hazard Communication Program training had not been conducted with company employees.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Nov 20, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals:    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th 2012, and times prior thereto:  Two yellow gallon containers, containing approximately one half gallon each of either Altra AW32, Altra EP 68, or Altra GL-5 80W90 gear oil, were not labeled to identify the chemical(s) or the hazards of the chemicals contained in the units.

Issued

Oct 29, 2012

Abate by

Dec 12, 2012

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment were kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.    a.) Vortex Recycling, 61 Riverpark Drive, New Castle, Pa, 16101- On or about May 7th, 2012, and times prior thereto  Wipe samples of employee eating and drinking surfaces such as employee picnic table, microwave and drinking fountain showed the presence of a copper fume particulate, manganese, zinc oxide, iron oxide, cadmium and chromium.