OSHA Inspection: ELAN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,851 · Current $2,888 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:       a) In the Dupont Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that employees who changed out totes of 84% acetic acid wore chemical goggles and a faceshield, resulting in a chemical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to hazardous condition(s):   a) In the Dupont Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, employees who changed out totes of 84% acetic acid wore nitrile gloves that have poor resistance to that chemical, resulting in a chemical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,311 · Current $1,733 Reduced

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:     a) Throughout the facility, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, the employer did not conduct periodic inspections of the lockout procedures on an annual basis for machinery including but not limited to ball mills, a drum lift, hydraulic presses, spray dryers, and mixing tanks.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,851 · Current $2,888 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0020

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:     a) Along the north side of Dryer Room #1, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, a suitable quick drench eyewash was not available, in that the eyewash nozzles did not control the flow of flushing water to both eyes simultaneously at a velocity low enough to be non-injurious for employees who were mixing a slurry containing 84% acetic acid, resulting in a chemical hazard.     b) In the Dupont Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, a quick drench eyewash/shower was not installed for employees who were mixing a slurry containing 84% acetic acid, resulting in a chemical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $4,042 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) In the mill room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, the forklift manufacturers approval was not obtained for the use of lifting apparatus that was attached to the forks of a Toyota lift truck for the purpose of elevating super sacks, resulting in a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2): Employee(s) stood under or passed under the elevated portion of a powered industrial truck(s):   a) In the mill room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, employees were positioned under the load while they opened the bottom of super sacks that were elevated using forklifts, resulting in a struck-by hazard.     b) In the Dupont room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, employees were positioned under the load while they opened the bottom of super sacks that were elevated using forklifts, resulting in a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(iii): Powered industrial truck(s), with the operator dismounted and within 25 feet of the truck still in his view, did not have the forks fully lowered:    a) In the Dupont room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, while dumping a super sack of powder into a mixing tank, the forklift operator did not fully lower the forks prior to dismounting the forklift, resulting in a struck-by hazard.   b) In Dryer Room #1, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, an operator did not remain on the forklift while its forks were raised to prevent the collapse of super sacks that were being filled on a scale, resulting in a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,851 · Current $2,888 Reduced

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):     a) In Dryer Room #2, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, a guard was not installed at the top of the mixing tanks to prevent employees who were standing on the adjacent platform from coming into contact with the mixing paddles, resulting in an amputation hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,310 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:     a) In Dryer Room #1, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the slurry pumps rotating horizontal shafts were unguarded, exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.       b) In Dryer Room #2, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the slurry pumps rotating horizontal shaft was unguarded, exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.       c) Outside the Dupont Room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, the rotating horizontal shaft located between the drive belt and the blower was unguarded, exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,310 · Current $1,732 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:     a) In Dryer #1 Control Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, a metal quadraplex receptacle box that was designed to be mounted in a permanent electrical installation was unmounted and attached to the end of a 120 volt job-made extension cord that was supplying power to a phone call light, resulting in an electrical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:   a) In Dryer #1 Control Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, a 120 volt job-made extension cord was used in lieu of fixed wiring to power the phones call light, resulting in an electrical hazard.     b) In Dryer Room #1, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, a 480 volt extension cord was used in lieu of fixed wiring to power a shaker/screener, resulting in an electrical and tripping hazard.     c) In Dryer Room #2, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, a 120 volt extension cord that was plugged into a remote receptacle was used in lieu of fixed wiring to power a scale located near the Sweco shaker, resulting in an electrical and tripping hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,310 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There were damaged parts that adversely affected safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment:     a) At the south wall of the Dryer #1 Control Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the 480V to 480V transformer that was located on the floor had obvious damage that adversely affected its mechanical strength, exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,310 · Current $1,732 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(i): Flexible cords and cables were not approved or conditions of use and location:     a) In the mill room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, flexible cords were used to supply power to stationary equipment including ball mills and ancillary equipment, which was not an approved use, resulting in an electrical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,160 · Current $4,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:     a) On the south wall of the Dryer #1 Control Room, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the junction box for the dryer control panel, the junction box adjacent to the 480V to 480V transformer, and the 480V to 480V transformer had one inch diameter unused openings that were not covered; the electrical box containing starters was missing the handle, which created a one inch by two inch unused opening that wasn't covered; and the IDM Controls drive box was not installed inside a cabinet, which created multiple unused openings, including a two inch by sixteen inch opening that was not covered, exposing employees to an electrical hazard.     b) In the Mill Room, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, the cooling table starter box had a one inch by four inch unused opening and the top of the calciner's hopper vibrator control box had a one inch diameter opening , exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,160 · Current $4,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:     In Dryer Room #2, on or about February 5, 2013 and at times prior to, the 480 volt power cord for the Sweco shaker was not installed to ensure strain relief, in that the power cord was stretched above the floor from the terminal connection at the shaker to a pendant, resulting in an electrical and tripping hazard.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:       a) In the powder prep department, on or about January 31, 2013 and at times prior to, the employer was not implementing a written respiratory protection program for employees who were required to wear respirators while performing dust generating work, resulting in a respiratory hazard.       Abatement Note:             A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program shall include all of the following requirements:             1.  Written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators shall be established.          2.  Only approved respirators shall be used.  Respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed.          3.  Respirators must be provided free-of-charge where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.          4.  Employers must provide (free-of-charge) a medical evaluation to determine each employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.          5.  Before initial respirator use, fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators where such respirators are required by OSHA or where the employer requires the use of such a respirator.          6.  The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations.        7.  Surveillance of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress shall be conducted.          8.  Employer must ensure the use of respirators where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.          9.  Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary condition.          10. Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and contamination.          11. Respirators shall be inspected during cleaning and repaired when necessary.         12. There shall be regular inspection and evaluation to determine the continued effectiveness of the program.