OSHA Inspection: BLASTCO TEXAS INC.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

Apr 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(g)(2)(iv): The employer shall ensure that flexible cords are connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided which will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.       The employer does not ensure that strain reliefs on flexible cords are connected. This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, west side of water storage tank, where employees are exposed to an electrical hazard when using a 12-gage yellow extension cord with damaged strain relief exposing the inner insulated wires.       Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that strain reliefs on flexible cords and cables are installed properly.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.416(e)(1): Worn or frayed electric cords or cables were used.   The employer does not ensure that worn or frayed electrical cords are not used.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, west side of Water Storage Tank, where employees were exposed to an electrical hazard when operating an electric sander attached to a 100 foot 12-gage yellow extension cord with frayed outer insulation exposing inner insulated wires.   Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that  frayed or worn extension cords or cables are taken out of service and repaired or destroyed

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

May 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(c)(2)(v): Fork-lifts were used to support scaffold platforms while the entire platform was not attached to the fork and/or the fork-lift was moved horizontally while the platform was occupied    The employer does not ensure that support scaffold platforms used on forklifts are attached. This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, on the southeast corner of a water storage tank where employees were exposed to a 20 foot fall hazard when standing on an elevated unattached and unapproved platform while operating a sander.      Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that forklifts being used and provided by employer are designed to be used to elevate personnel and both the machine and platform meet the requirements in 1926.451 for capacity, construction, access used, and fall protection.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

May 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.602(c)(1)(ii): Modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment were made without the manufacturer's written approval:   The employer does not ensure that modifications or additions  affecting the safe operation of the equipment are made with the manufacturer's written approval.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, southeast side of water storage tank where the employer added a wooden pallet on the forks of the Genie GTH-5519 Forklift exposing employee working from the platform to a fall hazard.   Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are safe when operating equipment that has been modified and the manufacturer has approved the modification for use.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

May 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(e)(1): When scaffold platforms were more than 2 feet (0.6 m) above or below a point of access, portable ladders, hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers (scaffold stairways/towers), stairway-type ladders (such as ladder stands), ramps, walkways, integral prefabricated scaffold access, or direct access from other scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface was not used.         The employer did not provide a ladder or stair for an employee working approximately 3.5 - 4 feet below a point of access.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, at the southeastern corner of a water storage tank where the employee was exposed to an approximate 20 foot fall hazard when accessing the top of a water storage tank from an elevated unattached scaffold platform on forks of a Genie Forklift (GTH-5519) without a ladder.     Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are provided ladders when working 2 feet above or below a point of access.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

May 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1): Each employee on a walking/working surface having an unprotected side or edge which was six or more feet (1.8m) or more above a lower level was not protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest system.     The employer did not protect employees from falling when working 6 feet or more above lower levels.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013 where employees were exposed to an approximate 25 foot fall hazard when working near an unprotected edge of a water storage tank.         Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees are protected from falling when exposed to falls when working 6 feet or more  above a lower level with an unprotected side or edge.

Issued

Apr 24, 2013

Abate by

May 9, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.602(c)(1)(vi): Industrial truck(s) in use did not meet the applicable requirements of design, construction, stability, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation, as defined in American National Standards Institute B56.1-1969, Safety Standards for Powered Industrial Trucks.     The employer does not ensure that the Genie Forklift Telehandler GTH-5519 met ANSI B56.1-1969, Safety Standards for Powered industrial Trucks.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2013, south east side of water storage tank, where an employee was elevated on forks of an unattended forklift.       Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including documentation describing the steps that it is taking to ensure when forklifts (industrial trucks) are in use that it meets the applicable requirements of operation as defined in American National Standards Institute B56.1-1969  - Safety Standards for Powered Industrial Trucks.