OSHA Inspection: GUNZE PLASTICS & ENGINEERING CORP. OF AMERICA

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.  Employees working in the area of the recycle room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards in that the 8 dust collector cyclones were located inside the building and were not protected with deflagration or suppression protection.  Among other methods, a feasible method to correct this hazard is to comply with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 654 "Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosion from Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids" and NFPA 68 "Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting", including but not limited to: a) Relocate the dust collector outside of the building (NFPA 654). b) If necessary to locate the dust collector indoors, direct vented material to the outdoors with appropriate vent ducting (NFPA 68).

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.:  Employees working in the area of the recycle room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards in that combustible plastic dust had accumulated on horizontal surfaces at depths measured up to 1/4".

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:  An employee servicing and replacing belts on the machine direction orientator (MDO) on the flat film line was exposed to amputation and entanglement hazards in that, the employee received inadequate training on the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  The hazardous energy sources for the MDO consist of electricity and air.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

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:  Employees working in the area of the stretching unit on line 4 in tube film were exposed to amputation and entanglement hazards in that, the opening on the cover to the ingoing rollers did not prevent employees from getting their hands and fingers caught.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:   Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards in that, two oxygen cylinders were stored 13' from an acetylene cylinder without being separated by a noncombustible barrier.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(1)(i): Fixtures, lampholders, lamps, rosettes, and receptacles located within 8 feet of the floor had live parts exposed to employee contact:  Employees working in the area of line 2 in the nylon tube film department were exposed electric shock hazards in that, live electrical parts on a 120 volt duplex receptacle were not enclosed by a cover plate.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c)(2)(i):  Equipment in hazardous (classified) location(s) was not approved for the class of location:  Employees working in the area of the recycle room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards in that, electrical equipment in the area was not approved for class II locations where combustible plastic dust was present.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9800.00 · Current $4900.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i):     Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.    Employees servicing and replacing belts on the machine direction orientator (MDO) on the flat film line were exposed to amputation and entanglement hazards in that, the equipment was not locked/tagged out, and a specific procedure had not been developed, documented and utilized for the lockout/tagout of hazardous energy.  The hazardous energy sources for the MDO consist of electricity and air.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5600.00 · Current $2800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  Employees were exposed to amputation entanglement hazards from unguarded pulleys for the following instances:  1) The pulleys on the stretching unit of line 4 were not guarded. 2) The backside of the extruder motor pulley on line 4 was not fully enclosed by a guard.  3) The pulleys on the stretching unit of line 3 was not guarded. 4) The backside of the extruder motor pulleys on line 2 were not fully enclosed by a guard. 5) The pulleys on the die unit of Line 2 were not guarded.  Gunze Plastics & Engineering Corp. of America was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315084368, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on April 4th, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1400 S. Hamilton Cir., Olathe, KS 66061.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical and inclined belts shall be enclosed by a guard conforming to standards in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.  Employees were exposed to amputation entanglement hazards from unguarded belts for the following instances:  1) The vertical belt on the stretching unit of line 4 was not guarded. 2) The vertical belt on the stretching unit of line 3 was not guarded.  Gunze Plastics & Engineering Corp. of America was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315084368, citation number 1, item number 3b and was affirmed as a final order on April 4th, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1400 S. Hamilton Cir., Olathe, KS 66061.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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.  Employees were exposed to amputation entanglement hazards in that, the horizontal belt on the die unit of Line 2 was not guarded.  Gunze Plastics & Engineering Corp. of America was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315084368, citation number 1, item number 3b and was affirmed as a final order on April 4th, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1400 S. Hamilton Cir., Olathe, KS 66061.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(e)(1): A side-hinged door was not used to connected rooms to an exit route:  The overhead door used along an exit route from the tube film area to the maintenance storage area was not a side-hinged door.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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 periodic inspection of the energy control procedures was not conducted at least annually to ensure the effectiveness of the lockout/tagout program.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2): Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:  Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly to assure they are in working order in the event of a fire.

Issued

2013-08-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage:  The working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts or less was used for storage for the following instances:  1) Materials stored in the electric utility room prevented access to the circuit breakers.  2) Maintenance items in the storage room next to the tube film area prevented access to an electrical circuit breaker panel.