OSHA Inspection: BIOLAB, INC.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(3): Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards were not guarded with a standard railing and toe board.  Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - An employee operating the filler machine was exposed to pinch point hazards from the moving parts in the event of a fall from a lack of a mid-rail guard, on or about 3/25/13.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances C110

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) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2, employees working in the compression room and on the filler line were exposed to corrosive materials. The eye wash provided was not suitable in that water was not flowing from the eye wash, on or about 3/25/13.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).    b) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2,  at the 3" tablets compression room mezzanine, employees were exposed to corrosive materials. The eye wash provided was blocked with a hopper stored in front of it, on or about 3/25/13.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not 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):    BioLab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In the 3" compression mezzanine of building 2;  two (2) SMX temporary employees operating the Crown Equipment Corporation powered pallet jack had not been trained and certified in the operation of the powered industrial truck as required by the standard, on or about 3/25/13.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $3,400

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:    Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - An employee operating the filler machine was exposed to pinch point hazards from the moving parts when placing containers on the conveyor, on or about 3/25/13.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - An employee operating the filler machine was exposed to an amputation hazard from the unguarded chain and sprocket next to the handle that operators used to adjust the height of the conveyor, on or about 3/25/13.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings were not effectively closed:    a) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - The electrical panel near line 2 in Building 2, had unused open breakers that were not closed or a blank installed, on or about 3/25/13.    b) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - An electrical panel in Building 6, had three breakers with open spaces on the side and not completely closed, on or about 3/25/13.    c) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - Unused openings in the side of a junction box at the 3" mezzanine of building 2 were not effectively closed, on or about 3/25/13.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Mar 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0640

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of chlorine listed in Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants, in excess of 1.0 parts per million (ppm) as a ceiling concentration:    a) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2, an employee working in the mezzanine of the 3" compression room was exposed to chlorine at a level of 11 parts per million (ppm), approximately 11 times the ceiling limit of 1.0 ppm. The employee was moving and opening totes during a 15-minute sample on 6/6/13.    b) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2, an employee working in the mezzanine of the 3" compression room was exposed to chlorine at a level of 1.9 parts per million (ppm), approximately 1.9 times the ceiling limit of 1.0 ppm. The employee was moving and opening totes during a 15-minute sample on 6/6/13.    Biolab, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1000(e), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312526965, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on 10/26/09, with respect to a workplace located at 1700 Old Covington Hwy, Conyers, GA.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Mar 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0640

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    a) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2, an employee working in the mezzanine of the 3" compression room was exposed to chlorine at a level of 11 parts per million (ppm), approximately 11 times the ceiling limit of 1.0 ppm. The employee was moving and opening totes during a 15-minute sample on 6/6/13.    b) Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - In building 2, an employee working in the mezzanine of the 3" compression room was exposed to chlorine at a level of 1.9 parts per million (ppm), approximately 1.9 times the ceiling limit of 1.0 ppm. The employee was moving and opening totes during a 15-minute sample on 6/6/13.    Biolab, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1000(e), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312526965, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on 10/26/09, with respect to a workplace located at 1700 Old Covington Hwy, Conyers, GA.    General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to the following:      1.  Install local exhaust ventilation system at each bag opening station.      2.  Explore the possibility of changing the way the bags are open to limit employees exposure to the dust while opening the bags.    However, other methods of abatement may be equally, or more appropriate.  Ultimate responsibility for determining the most appropriate abatement method rests with the employer given its superior knowledge of the specific conditions at its worksite.    Abatement Schedule    Step 1 -   A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:     (1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;     (2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;     (3)  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures:     (4)  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. 90-day progress reports are required during the abatement period.    Step 2: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and /or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 17, 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:  Biolab, Inc., Conyers, GA - A flexible cord was used as a substitute for fixed wiring where the cord was connected to a utility box labeled "BAGGING AC CONTROLS" and supplied electricity to a light fixture in building 2, on or about 3/25/13.