OSHA Inspection: TENAX MANUFACTURING ALABAMA LLC

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,860 · Current $3,300 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 allowed to operate forklifts without wearing a seatbelt:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to struck-by hazards by allowing employees to operate forklifts without wearing a seatbelt.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,430 · Current $1,650 Reduced

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, the width of the stair to be measured clear of all obstructions except handrails:    a)  At TR07 Polyethylene Area:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to falls of 7 feet 2 inches to ground below in that there was no midrail installed.    b)  At TR07 and TR11Polyethylene Area:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to falls of 5 feet 9 inches to ground below in that there was no midrail installed.    c)  At TR11 Polyethylene Area:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to falls of 4 feet 2 inches to ground below in that there was no midrail installed.    d)  At TR12 Polyethylene Area:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to falls of 5 feet 10 inches to ground below in that there was no midrail installed.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,430 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(b):  An emergency action plan was not in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to the hazards of not having an emergency action plan so that employees would know what to do in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,670 · Current $3,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to potential hazardous energies in that the employees were allowed to work on the number 4 RAM Machine which has multiple energy sources such as electrical, air, and natural gas without those employees having a written machine specific lock out procedure to ensure that those energy sources were controlled while the employees were performing maintenance or servicing on the machine.    b)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to potential hazardous energies in that the employees were allowed to work on the number 3 RAM Machine which has multiple energy sources such as electrical and air without those employees having a written machine specific lock out procedure to ensure that those energy sources were controlled while the employees were performing maintenance or servicing on the machine.    c)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to potential hazardous energies in that the employees were allowed to work on the number 6 Packaging Machine which has multiple energy sources such as electrical and air without those employees having a written machine specific lock out procedure to ensure that those energy sources were controlled while the employees were performing maintenance or servicing on the machine.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,670 · Current $3,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer failed to train his employees on the hazards of energy control exposing them to caught-in and electrocution hazards.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,050 · Current $2,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1):   An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the exployer required his employees to fight small fires withing the facility and failed to train them on how to use the fire extinguisher and how to fight incipient stage fires.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,670 · Current $3,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i):  The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was 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)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees are allowed to operate powered industrial trucks without the employer first ensuring the employees were competent to operate the equipment as demonstrated by the completion of the required training and evaluation specified in the regulation.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,050 · Current $2,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    a)  At Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed employees to point of operation hazards in that employees were allowed to operate the HMT Lathe that was not properly guarded.     b)  At Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed employees to point of operation hazards in that employees were allowed to operate the Bridgeport Milling Machine that was not properly guarded.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,430 · Current $1,650 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(i)(1):  Non-working portion(s) of the blade of bandsaw(s) were not enclosed or guarded:    a)  At Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to caught-by and cut hazards in that the employer failed to provide a guard covering the unused portion of the rotating blade.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,443 · Current $2,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4):  Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:    a) At the Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer failed to ensure work rests on a Daytona bench grinder were properly adjusted exposing employees to caught-in hazards.    b) At the Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer failed to ensure work rests on a Jet bench grinder were properly adjusted exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9):  Guard for abrasive wheel machine where the operator stands in front of the machine was not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member could be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel:    a) At the Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer failed to ensure a Dayton bench grinder used by employees was equipped with adjustable tongue guards exposing employees to struck-by hazards.    b) At the Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer failed to ensure a Jet bench grinder used by employees was equipped with adjustable tongue guards exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,050 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(f)(3): Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors were not replaced:    a)  At Maintenance Shop:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to electrocution hazards in that he did not ensure damaged welding leads were replaced prior to allowing employees to use athe Miller Dimension 250 welder.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,443 · Current $2,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii):   Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:    a)  At Polyethylene Area:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior;  the employer exposed his employees to arc flash hazards in that he failed to ensure the 480 VAC main disconnect for the TR7 was fully enclosed.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,050 · Current $2,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:    a) At Tenax Conference Room:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to fire hazards and electricution hazards in that he failed to ensure an out box had a cover installed.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,240 · Current $2,200 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)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to hazardous chemicals and substances including but not limted to oxygen, acetylene, motor oil, hydraulic fluid, polypropylene and butene Copolymer Plastic Resin without implementing a written Hazard Communication Program.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    a)  At Tenax Manufacturing Alabama:  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals and substances including but not limited to oxygen, acetylene, motor oil, hydraulic fluid, synthetic lubricating fluid, polypropylene, butene copolymer plastic resin and propane without providing information and training on these chemicals and substances as required by the standard.

Issued

Feb 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition:    a)  At TR7 Polyethylene Area;  On or about August 21, 2012 and at times prior; the employer exposed his employees to slip, trip and fall hazards in that he allowed power cords and pneumatic air lines to run through standing water where employees walk between the TR7 machine and the operator stand.