OSHA Inspection: QUANTUM HERBAL PRODUCTS

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":    a). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees manufacturing herbal tinctures with 190 proof ethyl alcohol. The employer did not implement exit signs on site.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(b): An emergency action plan was not in writing, kept in the workplace, available to employees for review, nor communicated orally to employees:    a) On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees manufacturing herbal tinctures with 190 proof of ethyl alcohol. The employer did not implement, written or orally, an emergency action plan.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): The employer did not provide portable fire extinguishers and mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury:  a). On or about 2/15/13, on site, for employees, manufacturing herbal tinctures with 190 proof of ethyl alcohol. The employer did not provide portable fire extinguishers on site.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(5)(i): Flammable or combustible liquids, including stock for sale, were stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people:    a). On or about 2/25/13, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol and extracting herbs, flammables such as a 5 gallon drum of 190 proof ethyl alcohol, a drum of 10lb Palmarose Indian Herb, and a drum of 25lb of Peppermint Yakima Natural are stored near the entrance/exit of the site.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(c): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), was used where there were open flames or other sources of ignition within the possible path of vapor travel:     a). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol, Class 1, in the production of herbal tinctures. Employees work in the proximity of a gas stove, while it is on.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), were dispensed into containers without electrically interconnecting the nozzle and the container:     a). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol, a Class 1, from a 5 gallon metal drum in the production of herbal tintures. The employees were dispensing and handling the alcohol in the vicinity of the without properly bonding and grounding of the metal drum.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iii): Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area were not kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily:     a). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the herb room, for employees that use a pressing cloth when pressing the ethyl alcohol infused herb. The cloths are discarded with regular trash and discarded once a week.      b). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol in the production of herbal tinctures. Employees use paper towels to wipe spills of ethyl alcohol. The paper towels are discarded in an open waste container and discarded once a week.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iv): Ground area around buildings and unit operating areas were not kept free of weeds, trash, or other unnecessary combustible materials:    a). On or about 2/26/13, on site, near the building where employees are manufacturing herbal tinctures, and withdrawing 190 proof ethyl alcohol from flammable cabinet located about 15 feet from establishment. The employer maintains a flammable cabinet containing approximately 10 (5) gallon containers of 190 proof ethyl alcohol and more than 10 (5) gallons of empty containers of 190 proof ethyl alcohol. The employer did not keep the area free of weeds and other combustible materials.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $400 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 would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    a). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol in the production of herbal tintures. The employer did not provide employees with safety glasses/goggles.    b). On or about 2/26/13, on site, in the labs, for employees dispensing tintures, of alcohol and herbs, into smaller bottles to be shipped out. The employer did not provide employees with safety glasses/goggles.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:       a). On or about 2/25/13, in the herb room, for employees dispensing 190 proof ethyl alcohol to manufacture herbal products on a daily basis. The employer provided the employee with a 3M 1/2 mask respirator. The employer did not implement a respirator program to include a written program, fit tests, medical evaluations, and training.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $480 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled equipment was not installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling:    a). On or about 2/25/13, in the herb room, for employees using a power strip to energize equipment such as an industrial blender, lighting, and shrink wrap. Employees use the equipment on daily basis.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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). On or about 2/25/13, in the herb room, for employees using the following equipment on a daily basis: industrial blender, lighting, and shrink wrap gun. The equipment was plugged into a power strip. The power strip was plugged into an extension cord.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employers did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    a). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use 190 proof ethy alcohol to manufacture herbal products on a daily basis. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include a written program, MSDS, and training.    b). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that clean work surfaces with FS RTU-D2 Surface Sanitizer. The product contains chemicals, such as, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include a written program, MSDS, and training.    c). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use herbs, such as, but not limited to, Peppermint Yakima and Habanero, to manufacturer herbal tinctures. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include a written program, MSDS, and training.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Jul 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they used:  a). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use 190 proof ethy alcohol to manufacture herbal products on a daily basis. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include MSDS.  b). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that clean work surfaces with FS RTU-D2 Surface Sanitizer. The product contains chemicals, such as, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include MSDS.  c). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use herbs, such as, but not limited to, Peppermint Yakima and Habanero, to manufacturer herbal tinctures. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include MSDS.

Issued

Jun 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area:    a). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use 190 proof ethy alcohol to manufacture herbal products on a daily basis. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include training.    b). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that clean work surfaces with FS RTU-D2 Surface Sanitizer. The product contains chemicals, such as, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include training.    c). On or about 2/25/13, on site, for employees that use herbs, such as, but not limited to, Peppermint Yakima and Habanero, to manufacturer herbal tinctures. The employer did not implement a hazard communication program to include training.