OSHA Inspection: HUMMEL CROTON INC.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

May 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,960 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 hazardous conditions when working from an elevated surface on a job-made work platform.  In addition, the job-made work platform was not properly secured to the forks:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., South Plainfield, NJ facility  Outside Blending Area by Back Building:  The Employee was raised to the top of the blending machine to conduct Silicon Blending/Screening operations on a job-made work platform (forklift cage) on the elevated forks of a forklift truck such as, but not limited to Yale GLP050VXEVSLQ85 (SN#B875B17453F).  The job-made work platform was not secured to the lifting carriage and/or forks of the forklift.  The Employee was exposed to falls of approximately 12 feet and 3 inches to the ground in the event the unsecured job-made work platform slides off the forks while the employee is working on the platform.        Condition noted on/or about October 25, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  Open sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor, or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides of the platform:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., NJ facility  Blend Room top platform:  Employees were not provided with fall protection such as standard railings, personal fall protection, etc. to prevent employees from accidentally falling approximately eleven (11) feet and eight (8) inches.      Condition noted on/or about October 16, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

Apr 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1):  A training program was not instituted for all employees who were exposed to noise at or above an 8 hour timeweighted average of 85 dBA:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., NJ facility  Mill Room:  The Employer did not provide a training program for all employees in the Mill Room who were exposed to noise at or above 8 hour timeweighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA.      Employees working in the Mill Room were exposed to continuous noise levels of 83.4 dBA and 90.6 dBA for an 8 hour TWA, which is equivalent to doses of 40.12% and 109.9% respectively. Employees exposure of 90.6 dBA exceeds the Action Level of 85 dBA.  Sampling time were 431 minutes and 434 minutes respectively.  Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.      Condition noted on/or about October 25, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

Apr 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,120 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator in the workplace:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., NJ - Throughout facility:  Employees, who were required to wear respirators such as, but not limited to half-face respirators Comfo 2 Ellite, full-face respirators MSA Ultra-Twin Hycar, etc. were not provided with medical evaluations prior to the use of the respirators in the workplace.      Condition noted on/or about October 16, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

Apr 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(4)(i): The medical questionnaire and examination was not administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., South Plainfield, NJ - Throughout facility:  Medical questionnaire for respirator use was not administered confidentially to employees.  Employees are required to wear respirators such as, but not limited to half-face respirators Comfo 2 Ellite, full-face respirators MSA Ultra-Twin Hycar, etc.    Condition noted on/or about October 16, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching of flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., NJ facility:  Eyewash and shower facilities were not provided within the work areas for immediate emergency use where corrosive materials such as, but not limited to:  1) Nitric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, etc. used in the Drying Room  2) Ammonium Hydroxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, etc. used in the Chemical Reactors    Condition noted on/or about October 16, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

May 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., South Plainfield, NJ facility: Outdoor Blending Area:  A job-made platform (forklift cage) attachment had been modified by the Employer and attached to a powered industrial forklift truck such as, but not limited to Yale GLP050VXEVSLQ85 (SN#:B875B17453F) affecting the capacity load of the powered industrial truck.  The Employer did not have prior approval from the manufacturer to make the modifications.  The truck was not marked to include the load capacity information for the attachment.      Condition noted on/or about October 25, 2012

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

May 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(5): Nameplates or markings for powered industrial trucks that were equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, the user did not request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered:     a) Hummel Croton Inc., South Plainfield, NJ facility: Outdoor Blending Area: A job-made platform (forklift cage) attachment that had not been installed by the manufacturer was attached to a powered industrial forklift truck such as, but not limited to Yale GLP050VXEVSLQ85 (SN#:B875B17453F) and was not marked to include the attachment, as mentioned above.    Condition noted on/or about October 25, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

Apr 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $280 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1904.32(a)(2):  At the end of each calendar year, an annual summary of injuries and illnesses recorded on the OSHA 300 Log was not created:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., 10 Harmich Rd., South Plainfield, NJ facility  Annual summaries (OSHA 300A forms) of injuries and illnesses recorded on the OSHA 300 log for years 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 were not created.    Condition noted on/about October 16, 2012.

Issued

Apr 3, 2013

Abate by

Apr 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.33(a): Records (OSHA Form No. 300, annualy summary and its predecessor OSHA Forms No. 200 and 101) were not retained in the establishment for 5 years following the end of the year to which they relate:    a) Hummel Croton Inc., South Plainfield, NJ facility:  OSHA 300 form for year 2009 was not retained in the establishment.      Condition noted on/about October 16, 2012.