OSHA Inspection: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIR

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.    On or about 7/17/2012, at the Decatur facility, employees were exposed to fire hazards associated with emergency egress as emergency exit doors at the Canteen door dock was equipped with a dead bolt lock and not available for immediate use.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D)(h).    On or about 7/20/2012, at the Decatur location, employees were exposed to bodily unjuries that could result in death as the employer has established a Lockout/Tagout program but has not created specific written procedures that include the following: 1. Outline the steps to be followed; 2. Techniques to be used; 3. Actions to be taken by the employer to ensure that the control measures are utilized by employees; and 4. Magnitude of energies on the equipment being serviced or maintained. Equipment includes: the Sanipac, HVAC machines, boilers, hard wired hospital equipment, and steam pipes.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed.    On or about 7/20/2012, at the Decatur location, employees were exposed to bodily injuries that could result in death as the employer has extablished a Lockout/Tagout Program but did not conduct a periodic inspection on an at least annual basis to verify the validity and effectiveness of specific written procedures and has not included "Authorized" employees involved in the program as a part of the periodic review.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.    On or about 7/20/2012, at the Decatur location, "Authorized" employees performing service and maintenance lockout activities did not apply locks during the course of work being provided.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s).    On or about 7/17/2012, at the Decatur location, employees were exposed to hand and finger hazards as drill presses were not guarded at the point of operation. Instances included:    1 - Rockwell Drill Press in the C Building basement of the Carpentry shop - SN# 84D81624  2 - Delta Drill Press in Prosthetic Dept - Room 1C.220N - SN#97J7153   3 - Delta Drill Press in Prosthetic Dept - Room 1C.220N - SN#97L7152    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i..    On or about 7/17/2012, in the Painters Meeting Room, employees were exposed to embolism hazards as a compressed air nozzle used to blow off equipment, hands and clothes was measured at >100 psi.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident.    On or about 7/17/2012, at the Decatur faciility, employees were exposed to electrical and physical hazards as electrical disconnects were not labeled as to what equiopment they control. Instances included:    1 - Dryer & Autoclave disconnects - 600 volt - Room 4A 150  2 - Disconnect for Cage Washer, Dirty Side - 600 volt - 4th Floor #4A 129 Animal Cage Wash      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage.    On or about 7/17/2012, employees were exposed to electrical and physical hazards as eletrical disconnects were blocked by equipment and stored items and were unable to be reached. Instances included:    1 - Disconnect for Multi Vacuum system 600 volts - Dental Lab Bldg. C - blocked by other equipment  2 - Disconnect for cage washer 600 volts - on the Dirty Side of cage wash - 4th Floor #4A 129 Cage Wash - blocked by dirty cages to be washed    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed.    On or about 7/17/2012, at the Decatur location, employees were exposed to electrical hazards as eletrical panels in mechanical rooms were left open with exposed live parts. There were two 120/208 volt panels and two 266/460 volt panels with exposed live parts.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(h)(6): Fittings. Connectors used to connect lengths of cable in a run shall be of a type that lock firmly together. Provisions shall be made to prevent opening or closing these connectors while energized. Strain relief shall be provided at connections and terminations.    On or about 7/20/2012, at the Decatur location, employees in the Dietary/Nutrition Food Prep area, were exposed to electrical hazards as the strain relief on the Waning blender was exhausted.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.    On or about 7/17/12, employees in the carpentry shop used a Black & Decker bench grinder with a work rest that was adjusted 3/4" away from the grinding wheel.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this OSHA standard or it's equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312528102, citation 1, item 6a, issued 2/1/2010. The citation became a final order on 2/17/2010.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch.    On or about 7/17/2012, in the Carpentry Shop employees were using a Black & Decker bench grinder that was not equipped with tongue guards on either side of the grinder.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this OSHA standard or it's equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312528102, citation 1, item 6b issued 2/1/2010. The citation became a final order on 2/17/2010.