OSHA Inspection: LAWSON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):     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 potential crush-by and struck-by hazards because storage racks were severely bent and displayed severe damage to load bearing horizontal and vertical components.      a) Throughout Warehouse Area  On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure steel storage racks were reomoved or repaired when damaged, thus employees were exposed to crush-by and struck-by hazards.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED.  							  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to:    The employer should be familiar with the Rack Manufactures Institute publication Specifications for Design, Testing, and Utilization of Industrial Steel Storage Racks ANSI standard MH16.1-2008 that references rack damage, repair and replacement. The ANSI Standard MH16.1:2008 stated that owner shall maintain the structural integrity of the installed rack system by assuring proper operational, housekeeping, and maintenance procedures including, but not limited to the following:    Section 1.4.1 Owner Maintenance    1)  Prohibit any overloading of any pallet positions and of the overall rack system.  2)  Regularly inspect for damage.  If damage is found, immediately unload the affected area and replace or repair any       damaged columns, beams, or other structural components.  3)  Require all pallets to be maintained in good, safe, operating condition.  4)  Ensure that the pallets are properly placed onto pallet load support members in a properly stacked and stable position.  5)  Require that all goods stores on each pallet be properly stack and stable.  6)  Prohibit double stacking of any pallet position, including the top-most position, unless the rack system is specifically       designed for such loading.  7)  Ensure that the racks are not modified or rearranged in a manner not within the original design configurations per       1.4.5.

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1):     The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    a) Forklift LP-Gas Tank  On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, the employer did not perform a hazard assessment to ensure employees were provided with proper personnel protective equipment (PPE) when refueling LP-Gas tank used for forklift activity, thus exposing the employees to chemical burns.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i):     The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).    a) Forklift  On or about, and at times prior to July, 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure employees who operated a DAEWOO, Model GC25S-2, S/N 06-05649, LP_Type forklift were trained to operate such powered industrial trucks in accordance with the standard, thus exposing employees to ejection and struck-by hazards.     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3)(i)(K):     Refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries;    a) LP-Gas  On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure forklift training content was specific to proper refueling procedures and the hazards associated Liquid-Petroleum Gas, thus exposing employees to chemical burns.        ABATEMENT CERTICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1):     If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.    a)  Forklift tires - On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, employees were allowed to operate a LP-Type forklift, Daewoo GC255-2, S/N06-056449, with defective rear tires that were severely cracked, split, and missing large chunks, thus exposing employees to crush-by and struck-by hazards.    ABATEMENT CERIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(1):     Each exit route must be adequately lighted so that an employee with normal vision can see along the exit route.    a) Warehouse exit door over General Managers Office door - On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure designated exits were illuminated or had the capability to be illuminated by a reliable light source, thus employees were exposed to a life safety/entrapment hazard.	    b) Rear of Warehouse, adjacent to roll-up door - On or about July 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure designated exits were illuminated or had the capability to be illuminated by a reliable light source, thus employees were exposed to a life safety/entrapment hazard.	    c) Center personnel door adjacent receiving roll-up door - On or about July 11, 2012, the employer did not ensure designated exits were illuminated or had the capability to be illuminated by a reliable light source, thus employees were exposed to a life safety/entrapment hazard.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6):     Each exit sign must be illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color. Self-luminous or electroluminescent signs that have a minimum luminance surface value of at least .06 footlamberts (0.21 cd/m2) are permitted.    a) Warehouse exit door over General Managers Office door - On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, an exit sign that was located above the doorway was not illuminated for employees who worked in the warehouse, thus exposing employee to a life safety hazard.      b) Rear of Warehouse, adjacent to roll-up door - On or about, and at times prior to July 11, 2012, an exit sign that was located above the doorway was not illuminated for employees who worked in the warehouse, thus exposing employee to a life safety hazard.    c) Center personnel door adjacent receiving roll-up door - On or about July 11, 2012, an exit sign that was located above the doorway was not illuminated for employees who worked in the warehouse, thus exposing employee to a life safety hazard.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 19, 2012

Abate by

Oct 11, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):     Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:    a) Warehouse area  On or about, and at times prior to July 12, 2012, the employer did not develop an effective written hazard communication program for employees who were exposed to miscellaneous chemicals such as, but not limited to, aerosol spray paints.    					  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED