OSHA Inspection: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - VA MEDICAL CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(4):  Objects that project into the exit route must not reduce the width of the exit route to less than the minimum width requirements for exit routes:  VAMC San Francisco - Northernmost Garage by Bldg. 9 - On or about March 5, 2012 and at times prior thereto, emergency egress from the back area of the landscape garage adjacent to the flammable cabinets was less than the required 28 inches.  The distance was measured as less than 12 inches.  The aisle was blocked by a cardboard box used for storage, stored cones, and metal.  The back flammable cabinet stores gasoline used in landscape equipment.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(4):  Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:  VAMC San Francisco - Steam Plant - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior there to, sign were not posted indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit discharge for employees assigned to work in the boiler area on the first floor.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii): If an energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, the employer's energy control program under paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall utilize lockout, unless the employer can demonstrate that the utilization of a tagout system will provide full employee protection as set forth in paragraph (c)(3) of this section:  VAMC San Francisco -Nutrition and Food Services Kitchen - On or about March 5, 2013 and times prior thereto, Food Services kitchen employee's assigned to wash dishes, pot and pans or clean the equipment weekly for the Hobart dishwasher did not de-energize and lock out the electrical and liquid energy sources when removing jammed items in the equipment, cleaning the grates or engaging in a complete cleaning of the equipment as part of their assigned duties.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):  Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  VAMC San Francisco - Nutrition and Food Services Kitchen - On or about March 5, 2012 and at times prior thereto procedures have not been developed, documented and utilized:  Food Service and Maintenance employees did not have documented procedures for the Hobart dishwasher and pot/pan washer.  Food Service employees clear jams, clean grates throughout the day and conduct weekly cleaning of the Hobart dishwasher and pot/pan washer.  Maintenance employees maintain the Hobart dishwasher and pot/pan washer.  Both equipment's energy source are electric and water.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B):  Lockout and tagout devices were not standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: color; shape; or size:  VAMC San Francisco - Maintenance - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, locks used by the Maintenance Department was not standard by color, shape or size.  Two discarded Best general locks with extra key(s) were used on chains for locking out valves and were not consistent with the remainder of the Department's locks.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    VAMC San Francisco - Maintenance - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, periodic inspections of the energy control procedure(s) were not conducted to ensure the procedure and the requirements of the standard were being followed by Electricians, HVAC, Mechanics and Plumbers who were authorized employees for lockout/tagout.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):  The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:  VAMC San Francisco - Nutrition and Food Services Kitchen - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, Food Service employees bypass guards to reach areas in the point of operation on the Hobart dishwasher and pot/pan washer were not provided training to ensure they had the knowledge and skills required to engage in work that required the control of hazardous energy and the purpose and function of the energy control program.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  VAMC San Francisco - Prosthetics Lab- On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, the Rockwell Model 20 Drill Press with "San Francisco VAH Maintenance NO 3413-5001" did not have a guard to prevent Prosthetic Practitioners from coming in contact with the rotating drill bit, flying chips and sparks while using the equipment to drill plastic and metal parts for prosthetics.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:   a) VAMC San Francisco  Bldg. 6 Common Area - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto the pedestal grinder in the common area did not have work rest adjusted to within one eighth inch of the grinding wheel.  The left work rest of the Dayton 8 inch bench grinder, model 2LKR9, and lot number 201003 was measured 3/8 of an inch from the grinding wheel.   b) VAMC San Francisco -Prosthetics Lab - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto the Craftsmen 1/3 hp bench grinder, model 39719580, design C2371 did not have the work rest adjusted to within one eight inch of the grinding wheel.  The left work rest was measured at 1/2 inch from the grinding wheel.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(f)(1)(iv): Overcurrent devices for circuits rated 600 volts, nominal, or less, were not readily accessible to each employee or authorized building management personnel:   a) VAMC San Francisco - Bldg. 6 Common Area Women's Restroom Closet - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, access to the main on/off breaker box for the sump pump and women's restroom was blocked by items including, but not limited to, work carts, rolls of black electrical wiring and moveable lights with support structure.   b) VAMC San Francisco - Bldg. 20 storage in Garages by Bldg. 9 - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, access to the breaker box for the garage was blocked by a rolling desk chair, metal folding chair, small oxygen cart.   c) VAMC San Francisco - Small Engine Repair Shop in Garages by Bldg. 9 - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, access to the breaker boxes for the garage were blocked from access by items, including but not limited to, metal tables, air compressor, 55 gallon drum, and cardboard boxes.   d) VAMC San Francisco - Steam Plant first floor - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, access to the electrical disconnect were not readily accessible to employees in the area adjacent to:   -  South ground level entrance:  Access was blocked by items including but not limited to multiple 5 gallon containers and at least three 55 gallon drums, bags of products and various equipment parts.   - South side area nearest connected animal lab area:  Access to two electrical disconnects was blocked by items including but not limited to a large wood crate, filing cabinets, and unidentified item on a trailer, metal pipes on the ground.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 16, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):  The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):  VAMC San Francisco - Maintenance - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, the hazard assessment was not dated with the date of the assessment, name of person doing the assessment and did not specify the specific activity and hazards of the activity or the specific type of PPE required for the task(s) for the Maintenance Department's Carpenters, electricians, HVAC, Mechanics and Plumbers.  The PPE assessments was general rather than by specific task(s).

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s):  VAMC San Francisco - Maintenance Dept. - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, lockout devices did not identify the employee assigned and applying the lock for lockout of an energy source on or with the device.  Locks were assigned by a Supervisor who logged it in a book they kept.  Any situation where the identity of the employee assigned the lock becomes necessary, the only individual aware of who the lock is assigned to at any one time is the Supervisor who assigned it.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:   VAMC San Francisco - Garages adjacent to Bldg. 9 - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto, the circuit breakers in the two northern most garages were not labeled with the electrical equipment associated with each switch.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 16, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  VAMC San Francisco - On or about March 5, 2013 and at times prior thereto the written hazard communication program(s), Medical Center Memorandum No. 001ES-02 dated June 26, 2012 did not: - Include a list of the chemicals known to be present in the workplace using an identity that is referenced on the appropriate material safety data sheet; - State the name and contact information for the MSDS Coordinator and back-up Coordinator if applicable. - State the specific location(s) of the MSDS's (MSDS book) will be located/maintained. - State the specific type of labeling system that will be used. - State the name and contact information for the training coordinator(s). - Advise specific actions employees are to take when a container without a hazard label is found (specific who to contact/how to obtain a label and correct the situation). - Advise specific action employees are to take when an employee cannot locate an MSDS for a product known to be in the workplace. - State specifically how the training will be implemented (specifically by each service associated with the specific hazard communication program).