OSHA Inspection: TECSIS LP

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(c)(1): Each exit discharge must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside.  a. On or about March 21, 2013, the exit discharge of one of the emergency exits lead into a fenced in area that housed the flammable material.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d): An exit door must be unlocked.  a. On or about March 21, 2013, the emergency exit in the shipping area was locked with a padlock.  b. On or about March 21, 2013 the emergency exit in the storage area, the emergency exit was not usable due to a padlock securing the door.  c. On or about March 21, 2013 the emergency exit in the machine shop was secured with a padlock and unusable.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes must be arranged so that employees will not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel is effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers.  a. On or about March 23, 2013, the exit route required employees to travel through the area containing MEK and other flammable materials.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employees must be able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge. A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted on exit discharge doors.  a. On or about March 21, 2013, on of the emergency exit doors required the use of special tools, in order to open the door. It had to pull locks at the top and base of each of the double doors

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(5)(i): "Egress." Flammable or combustible liquids, including stock for sale, shall not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people.  a. On or about March 20, 2013 near the storage department, the employer had flammable material stored within three feet of a means of egress; thereby exposing employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): Energy control program. The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, 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.  a. The company did not establish a program to control the energy of machinery for maintenance.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2): "Lockout and Tagging." While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which have been deenergized, the circuits energizing the parts shall be locked out or tagged or both in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. The requirements shall be followed in the order in which they are presented (i.e., paragraph (b)(2)(i) first, then paragraph (b)(2)(ii), etc.). Note 1: As used in this section, fixed equipment refers to equipment fastened in place or connected by permanent wiring methods. Note 2: Lockout and tagging procedures that comply with paragraphs (c) through (f) of 1910.147 will also be deemed to comply with paragraph (b)(2) of this section provided that:  a. The company did not have in place a lock out / tag out program for working on electrical equipment; thereby exposing employees to contact with electrical current.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(a): Scope and application. The requirements of this section apply to the placement, use, maintenance, and testing of portable fire extinguishers provided for the use of employees. Paragraph (d) of this section does not apply to extinguishers provided for employee use on the outside of workplace buildings or structures. Where extinguishers are provided but are not intended for employee use and the employer has an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan that meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1910.39 respectively, then only the requirements of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section apply.   a. The employer failed to train employees on the use of fire extinguishers or in lieu of fire extinguisher develop and impliment an emergency action plan as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38 and fire prevention plan outlined in 29 CFR 1910.39.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.39(b): Written and oral fire prevention plans. A fire prevention plan must be in writing, be kept in the workplace, and be made available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.  a. On March 20, 2013, the employer did not have a fire prevention plan in place or available for employees to review; thereby exposing employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(c)(4): Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation;  a. The employer failed to develop a procedure to include rally points or other means to ensure accountability of employees upon evacuation.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  a. The company did not produce a training program or means of evaluating the safe use of the forklift on site. Exposing employees to a struck by hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Jul 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.  a. The 1.5 ton press did not have a guard protecting employees from accessing the point of operation; thereby exposing employees caught in/ struck by hazard.   b. The electrical saw used for cutting styrofoam, was not guarded from employee contact; thereby exposing employees to contact with a heated cutting surface.  c. On March 20, 2013, in the machine room, an employee was using a metal lathe with rotating parts without a chuck guard or other means of guarding; thereby exposing employees to rotating parts.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  a. On March 20, 2013, in the Machine shop, a bandsaw was observed with 17 inches of exposed blade above the rest and 2 inches of exposed blade below the rest. The bandsaw was not guarded to prevent employees from entering into the point of operation, therefore exposing employees to a amputation hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.  a. On or April 01, 2013, employees working in the helium arc welding area were exposed to upguarded in running nip points from belts and pulley system 4 feet from the ground; thereby exposing employees to a caught in hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Where both runs of horizontal belts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor level, the guard shall extend to at least fifteen (15) inches above the belt or to a standard height, except that where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor, the belt shall be fully enclosed in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.  a. On April 01, 2013, employees working in the arc welding area were exposed to exposed belts 4 feet from the ground. Employees were exposed to a caught in hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.   a.     On March 20, 2013, employees working in the machine room were working on grinding machines without work rests. Employees were exposed to caught in and struck by hazards.     b.     On March 20, 2013, employees working in the machine room were working on grinding machines without work rests improperly set to greater than 1/8 inch. Employees were exposed to caught in and struck by hazards.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)  a. On March 20, 2013 employees working in the machine shop were exposed to a struck by and caught in hazard from grinder not being equiped with a tongue guard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(d)(3): Surface condition. All contact surfaces of wheels, blotters and flanges shall be flat and free of foreign matter.  a. On March 20, 2013, in the tool room on the north eastern wall, the surface condition of the abrasive wheel was grooved in the center. Employees were exposed to a struck by hazard.  b. On March 20, 2013, in the polishing room, the surface condition of the abrasive wheel was grooved in the center. Employees were exposed to a struck by hazard.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.   a. On March 20, 2013, next to the door in the storage area, the electrical transformer was hanging from the outlet box with greater than 50 Volts live current running through it.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)(i): Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this subpart; Note to paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section: Suitability of equipment for an identified purpose may be evidenced by listing or labeling for that identified purpose.  a. On March 20, 2013, in the quality control area the employer had developed a makeshift power cord for a industrial saudering machine. Employees were exposed to contact with live electrical current.  b. On March 20, 2013, in the Utility room, next to the oil fill station, an extension cord had been hardwired into a surge protector. Employees were exposed to contact with live electrical current.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidentalcontact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the following means:  a. On March 20, 2013, in the arc welding area the curcuit breaker box over the oxygen tanks was not properly blanked, exposing employees to 240Volt electrical current contact.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,925 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.  a. On March 20, 2013, in the shipping department there were two unused opening on the electrical cabinet over the shipping desk.  b. In the compressor area electrical room, the left most electrical box had an unused opening at the base.  c. In the machine shop, the electrical cabinet next to the drill had an unused opening.  d. In the arc welding area, there were three unused openings on the electrical cabinet near the welding bench.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(1): Switchboards with exposed live parts. Switchboards that have any exposed live parts shall be  accessible only to qualified persons.  a. The electrical panel in the arc welding area had exposed live parts that were accessible to unqualified persons, exposing employees to contact with live electrical current.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords may be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap. Hard-service cord and junior hard-service cord No. 14 and larger may be repaired if spliced so that the splice retains the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord being spliced.  a. In the shipping department the employer spliced a flexible cord in order to run current to a fixed piece of metal in order to cut Styrofoam. Exposing employees to contact with electrical current.

Issued

Jun 19, 2013

Abate by

Jul 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used:  29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;  a. In the engineering offices the employer was using extension cords as fixed wiring.   b. In the dust collector room, the employer had stapled the extension cord to the wall; employees were exposed to a fire hazard.