OSHA Inspection: CARMEN CREATIVE CABINET, L.L.C.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances E101W103

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, including severe burns, in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards from accumulation of combustible wood dust:    a) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that wood processing equipment including, but not limited to, saws and shapers was maintained under continuous suction, thus allowing escape of explosive wood dust during normal operation.  b) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that smoking was restricted to designated areas, thereby allowing ignition sources capable of igniting a dust cloud or layer to exist in production areas.   c) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure the use of cleaning methods that minimized generation of dust clouds, thereby allowing use of compressed air for cleaning where ignition sources existed from electrical installations, equipment and wiring that were not approved for the hazardous location, and/or had the potential to produce sparks due to uncovered relays, exposed conductors, and the like.   Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to conduct a process hazard analysis of the facility, the processes, and the associated fire or explosion hazards by an individual knowledgeable about explosive wood dusts, follow-up on any recommendations provided, and comply with applicable standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) including NFPA 654, "Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids (2006), including Chapter 8, which requires provision of continuous suction to minimize escape of dust for processes where combustible dust is liberated in normal operation, conveyance of dust to dust collectors, and use of cleaning methods that minimize generation of dust clouds, and Chapter 9, which requires smoking be restricted to designated areas, and NFPA 664 Standard for Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities (2007), including Chapter 8 requirements for wood particulate conveying and dust control systems.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances E101W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition:  a)In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, where employees were operating powered wood cutting, shaping and sanding equipment intermittently throughout the day, the employer did not ensure that surfaces were kept free of hazardous accumulations of combustible dust, exposing employees to the hazards of dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards. Equipment surfaces, tables, ledges, electrical conduit, breaker panel boxes, breakers, disconnects, toggle switch boxes, outlet receptacle boxes, PVC pipe, structural steel beams, and other building structural members were covered in hazardous accumulations of combustible dust ranging from 1/16 inch to more than 2 inches in depth.   b) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, work areas were not maintained in a clean and orderly condition in that appreciable amounts of scrap wood and metal were stored in the vicinity of dust-producing process equipment, where they were subject to coating by layers of escaping combustible dust, and were interfering with cleaning operations, thereby increasing the risk of dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floors of every workroom were not maintained in a clean condition:  a) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, where employees were operating powered wood cutting, shaping and sanding equipment intermittently throughout the day, the employer did not ensure that floors were kept free of hazardous accumulations of combustible dust, exposing employees to the hazards of dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards. Floors around equipment were covered in hazardous accumulations of combustible dust ranging from 1/16 inch to at least 12 inches in depth.   b) In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, wood scrap and debris on the floor were not cleaned up in a timely manner, exposing employees to trip hazards.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Hazardous substances 004004302037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:  In the cabinet plant, adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors in that employees were permitted to smoke where flammable chemicals were in use during wood cabinet manufacturing operations, including Famo-Wood Professional Wood Filler and Wood-Tex Solvent containing acetone, MEK, and petroleum distillates.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  a) In the cabinet plant, where the employer did not provide, or require, personal protective equipment for the eyes and/or face for employees who were using powered equipment such as saws, shapers, sanders, and drills, pneumatic nail guns and staple guns, hand tools such as hammers, and compressed air for cleaning, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by flying particles.   b)  In the cabinet plant, where employees were permitted to wear casual footwear such as tennis shoes in lieu of protective footwear such as safety toe shoes while working in areas where there was a danger of foot injuries due to falling objects such as plywood boards and wood cabinets, rolling objects such as fork truck(s), and objects piercing the sole, such as nails.  c) In the cabinet plant, personal protective equipment for the hands was not provided or used by employees who were exposed to the hazards of lacerations and puncture wounds from wood shards, splinters, nails and staples while engaged in cabinet manufacturing operations, including, but not limited to, loading and unloading cabinets, and cleaning up scrap wood and debris.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.136(a): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards:  At the inspection site, where use of protective footwear such as safety toe shoes was not required for employees who were working in areas where there was a danger of foot injuries due to falling objects such as plywood boards and wood cabinets, or rolling objects, such as fork truck(s), or objects piercing the sole, such as nails. Employees were wearing footwear with soft uppers and soles, such as tennis shoes.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  In the cabinet plant, personal protective equipment for the hands was not provided or used by employees who were exposed to the hazards of lacerations and/or puncture wounds from wood shards, splinters, nails and staples while engaged in wood cabinet manufacturing operations, including, but not limited to, loading and unloading cabinets, and cleaning up scrap wood and debris from the process.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  In the cabinet plant, the employer did not ensure that employees used appropriate protective equipment for the eyes and/or face while engaged in wood cabinet manufacturing operations using powered equipment such as saws, shapers, sanders, and drills, pneumatic nail guns and staple guns, hand tools such as hammers, and compressed air, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck in eyes by flying particles.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(i): Places of employment were not kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:  (a) In the cabinet plant, the toilet room used by employees was not maintained in a sanitary condition. Surfaces were visibly soiled, including the sink, toilet, and floor, and soiled toilet paper was overflowing the trash can onto the floor.   (b) In the cabinet plant, the only drinking fountain provided for employee use was visibly soiled, rusted, and coated with dust.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iv): Lavatories were not provided with individual hand towels or sections thereof, of cloth or paper, warm air blowers or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling:  In the Cabinet Plant toilet room, individual hand towels or other sanitary means for drying hands were not provided for employees using the sink for hand washing. Employees were using chemicals that caused skin irritation and/or defatting of skin while manufacturing wood cabinets, including Titebond Professional Original Wood Glue, Wood-Tex Solvent, and Wood-Tex Wood Filler.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(g)(3): Receptacles used for the disposal of waste food were not emptied not less frequently than once each working day, unless unused, and were not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Receptacles were not provided with a solid tight-fitting cover when sanitary conditions could not be maintained without use of a cover:  In the cabinet plant, food and beverage waste was discarded by employees in open containers along with wood scraps and floor sweepings, and stored, uncovered, for several days at a time because the dumpster was full.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(b): First aid supplies approved by a consulting physician were not readily available:  At the inspection site, where employees were operating powered equipment such as saws, shapers, and sanders, pneumatic nail guns, staple guns and drills, and hand tools such as hammers while manufacturing wood cabinets, and utilizing compressed air for cleaning, there were no first aid supplies available, exposing employees to the hazards of delayed medical treatment and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Hazardous substances E101W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(c)(2)(vi)(a): The employer did not ensure that only approved power operated industrial trucks designated as EX were used in atmospheres in which combustible dust is or may be in suspension continuously, intermittently, or periodically under normal operating conditions, in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, or where mechanical failure or abnormal operation of machinery or equipment might cause such mixtures to be produced:  In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, where employees were operating powered wood cutting, shaping and sanding equipment intermittently throughout the day, a Type LP Kalmar AC Lift Truck was used to move wood in work areas where wood dust, which was a Class II Group G combustible dust, was suspended in air during normal operations and was present in appreciable quantities on floors and other surfaces.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances E101W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:  In the cabinet plant, on or about May 10, 2012 and at times prior thereto, where employees were engaged in cabinet manufacturing operations using powered wood cutting, shaping and sanding equipment and compressed air intermittently throughout the day, wood dust, which was a Class II Group G combustible dust, was suspended in air during normal operations, and appreciable quantities had accumulated in work areas around such equipment. Electrical equipment and installations in the vicinity of dust-producing operations were not intrinsically safe, approved for a Class II Division I location, or safe for a Class II Division I location, including, but not limited to, general purpose wiring, breaker panel boxes, disconnect switches, outlet receptacles, toggle switch boxes, open motor fans, and electric motors.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

Hazardous substances 004004302150W103

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:  At the inspection site, where employees engaged in wood cabinet manufacturing operations were using hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, flammable Famo-Wood Professional Wood Filler and Wood-Tex Solvent, Titebond Original Wood Glue, propane, plywood, softwoods and hardwoods, the employer did not develop and implement a chemical hazard communication program.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 004004302150W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical which they used:   At the inspection site, where employees were using hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, flammable Famo-Wood Professional Wood Filler and Wood-Tex Solvent, Titebond Original Wood Glue, propane, plywood, softwoods and hardwoods, the employer did not have material safety data sheets.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

Hazardous substances 004004302150W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  At the inspection site, where employees were using hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, flammable Famo-Wood Professional Wood Filler and Wood-Tex Solvent, Titebond Original Wood Glue, propane, plywood, softwoods and hardwoods, the employer did not provide chemical hazard communication training.