OSHA Inspection: ECOREC RIO GRANDE VALLEY, INC.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(b)(1):     Aisles and passageways were not kept clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.    At this metal recycling plant, the catwalk next to the shredder and conveyor belt was in disrepair where the flooring of the catwalk was deteriorated at the entrance of the walkway. Employees were exposed to falls through the catwalk of approximately 35 feet.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1):     On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate.    At the interior, west side of the warehouse at this metal recycling plant, HVAC units had been installed on the roof/deck above interior offices. The rear wall of the block wall was beginning to show cracks and separation indicating loss of support for the HVAC units. There were no plates to indicate the amount of weight the roof/deck could support.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1):     The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:    At this establishment a workplace assessment to determine the need and types of personal protective equipment was not conducted. Employees used torches with no proper personal protective equipment; employees were not provided with adequate gloves to protect their hands; employees worked in areas where adequate foot protection was not provided.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(a)(5):     A continuing and effective extermination program was not instituted where rodents, insects, or other vermin were detected:    At the interior of the warehouse of this metal recycling plant, a vermin control plan was not implemented to prevent bites from bees of an undetermined species.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(vi):     A common drinking cup and other common utensils were not prohibited:    At this metal recycling plant, employees poured water from a water fountain located insde the warehouse into a common drinking cup used by all of the employees throughout the work day.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(iii):     The sewage disposal method endangered the health of the employee(s):    At this metal recycling plant, inside the warehouse, the sewerage system was in a high state of disrepair which allowed raw sewerage to spill onto the work floor. The sewerage system was not fully enclosed in that a metal plate was placed onver a hole in the concrete foundation to cover the septic tank in place.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):     The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    At this metal recycling plant, at the Excel baler machine, employees entered the interior chamber space without denergizing the machine, thus exposing employees to struck-by and crushing hazards. Employees were not trained on the employer's energy control procedure for this equipment nor were periodic inspections of the procedure conducted.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):     Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    At this metal recycling plant, employees worked with corrosive materials such as, but not limited to, the following:    A. Handlling vehicle batteries for storage and transport.    B. Recharging batteries for the fork lift trucks.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(g)(1):     Battery charging installations were not located in areas designated for that purpose:    At this metal recycling plant, battery charging for the fork lift trucks were not in separate and designated area away from other work activities being conducted.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 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:    At this metal recycling plant, inside the warehouse, emergency stop buttons and other safety devices were inoperable and/or missing from equipment such as, but not limited to:    A. The Excel baler's three emergency stop buttons were inoperable.    B. The Excel baler's guard for the baling wire was missing.    C. The Harmony, yellow baler located next to the water fountain had an inoperable emergency stop.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii):     Point of operation guards were not designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of their body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:    At this metal recyclling plant, at the vibrating table of the metal shredder, employees cllimbed onto the table while it was in operation without its guards, thus exposing employees to being caught and pulled into the shredder's teeth/gears.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b):     Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:    At this metal recycling plant, above the administration office roof top, HVAC units were not anchored to prevent movement and sliding off of the roof.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A):     The employer did not provide fire watchers whenever welding or cutting was performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop:    At this metal recycling plant, at the torch cutting area, a fire watch was not made available when employees cut large metal pieces with a torch where various flammable and combustible materials were located.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii):     Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet:    At this metal recycling plant, at the compressed gas cylinder storage area, oxygen and acetylene cylinders were stored together when not in use.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5):     The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:    At this metal recycling plant, throughout the plant and yard, electrical conductors were run in conduit and raceways which were not completely connected, at some points were damaged, and at other points had separated from fittings and connections. These condtions existed at areas such as, but not limited to:    A. In the electrical room.    B. Under the tower area.    C. By the pit area.    D. The metal raceway from the electrical room to the tower area.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2):     Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:    At this metal recycling plant, near the pit area, a Cutler-Hammer safety switch cover was held in place by bungee-type cords.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Apr 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 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:    At this metal recycling plant, throughout the work site, employees were potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to:    A. Aluiminum dust from recycled/shredded used beverage cans (UBCs).    B. Mercury    C. Hexavalent Chromium    D. Manganese.