OSHA Inspection: REENERGY STERLING LLC

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form.  When the employer was unable to identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH:    Boiler Room:  On, or about, January 9, 2013, employees considered essential to the plant function were sent into the Boiler Room during a boiler upset due to a blocked boiler inlet flue.  The Boiler Room was filled with smoke due to positive pressure in the boiler.  Employees wore North, full face, negative pressure cartridge respirators that were not designed for use in either oxygen deficient atmospheres and/or where carbon monoxide could be present.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iii):  Procedures were not developed, documented, and used for the control of potentially hazardous energy covered by paragraph (d) of this section:   Boiler Room Basement:  On, or about, January 3, 2013, an employee was seriously injured when he was pulled into the in-running nip point of a bottom ash out-feed conveyor tail pulley.  The equipment was not locked out while the employee was in a hazardous area of the machine.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(v)(11)(x):   When a conveyor that could cause injury when started is automatically controlled or is controlled from a remote location, an audible device was not provided that sounded an alarm that was recognized by each employee as a warning that the conveyor would start and that could be clearly heard at all points along the conveyor where personnel may be present:    Boiler Room Basement Level:  On, or about, January 17, 2013, an pre-start up alarm with a delay feature was not provided on the ash removal conveyor system that was started from the Control Room, a remote location.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(v)(11)(xi): Remotely and automatically controlled conveyors, and conveyors that have operating stations which are not manned or which are beyond voice and visual contact from drive areas, loading areas, transfer points, and other locations on the conveyor path not guarded by location, position, or guards were not not furnished with emergency stop buttons, pull cords, limit switches, or similar emergency stop devices:      Boiler Room Basement:  On, or about, January 3, 2013, adequate emergency stop devices had not been provided on the bottom ash conveyor system.  Employees and contractors worked around the conveyors cleang ash and removing tires.  Also, an employee who's pant leg got caught in the Boiler 2 tail pulley in-running nip point was not able to turn the conveyor system off before his leg was pulled in and he was seriously injured.