OSHA Inspection: RUCKER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Oct 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards of falling from elevated working surfaces when fall protection systems are not properly designed, installed, inspected and maintained, exposing employees to conditions causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm:                On or about March 28, 2013 and times thereafter, horizontal lifelines were used by employees working on the top of tanker trailers exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 11.5 feet. This condition includes but not limited to:            a) In Bay #1, and Bay #2, fall protection system spanning the approximate 27.5 foot length of each bay was not designed by a qualified person.                 b) In Bay #1, and Bay #2, formed eyes of wire rope do not employ the use of thimbles to prevent damage to the wire rope.                  c) In Bay #1, and Bay #2, fall protection system was not selected to satisfactorily limit total fall distance and allow for dynamic elongation, including activation distance of the connecting system, and elongation of the horizontal lifeline, lanyard, energy absorber and harness.             Among feasible and acceptable methods of abatement to correct these hazards would be to: 1) Install a personal fall arrest system; with horizontal lifeline and retractable lanyard designed, installed in accordance manufacturer's instructions, inspected and maintained as prescribe in manufacturer's instruction and ANSI Z359.1-1993. 2) Comply with ANSI Z359.1-1992 American National Standard Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components" states that fall protection systems that employ horizontal lifelines "shall" be evaluated in accordance with acceptable engineering practice to determine that the system, including all components will perform as intended.  3)  Comply with ANSI Z359.1-1992 Section 3.2.7.3.2 addresses formed eye terminations and requires that the formed eye shall incorporate a properly sized thimble and minimum of three wire rope clips, if clips are used, tightened in accordance with the clip manufacturer's specifications.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Oct 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) as specified by 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v), on all open sides walkways:         On the platform between wash bay 1 and 2, employees walked on the unguarded ramp, which extended from the platform to gain access to the top of the tank trailers, exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 11.5 feet.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition:        In the yard to the south of the wash bay building, a Hyster #225, industrial truck was operated with defects, exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(6): Industrial trucks were  altered by the addition of extra parts not provided by the manufacturer:           Powered Industrial trucks were operated using job-built 55 gallon drum hauler attachments and semi-trailer pulling attachments, both of which are attached to the forklift tines, resulting in a twisted frame for the tines, exposing employees to potential caught between and struck by hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii): Assigned storage spaces for cylinders were not located away from elevators, stairs, or gangways where cylinders could not be knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized persons:        In the room next to the wash bays, oxygen compressed gas cylinders are stored where they can be easily tipped by employees entering the storage/break room, exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(D): Cylinders were not secured on a special truck, regulators were not removed and valve protection caps, when provided for, were not put in place before cylinders were moved:      In the room next to the wash bays, cylinders were stored with regulators, exposing employees to struck by and fire  hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:        In the storage/break/office room adjacent to wash bay 1, electrical control boxes were not accessable to employees, exposing workers to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:        At the west wall between wash bay 1 and 2 , an electrical outlet was used to supply power to the portable lamp without path to ground, exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants passed were not provided with bushings designed for the purpose nor did the holes have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords could bear:          (a)    At the rear of Wash Bay 1, a flexible electrical cord extends from an outlet box to a power washer without a bushing to prevent abrasion, exposing employees to electrical hazards.         (b)    In the office, a flexible electrical wire extends from an electrical box without a bushing to prevent abrasion, exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,754 Reduced

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:         (a)    At the site, behind the building where trucks are washed, a flexible cord was used with a compressor, exposing employees to electrical hazards.         (b)     In the office where multiple extension cords are used instead of fixed wiring,  exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(B): Flexible cords and cables may not be used where run through holes in walls, ceilings or floors:       In the Wash Bay Building, electrical flexible cables run through walls, exposing workers to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:     The employer does not insure that equipment, wiring methods and installations in tank wash bays is intrinsically safe, approved for use in hazardous (classified) locations at:             a)    Bay #1 and #2, employees used a defective Vaprotex Drop light portable hand lamp that was not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.            b)    Bay# 1, the electrical outlet were defective and were not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.              c)    Bay #2  the electrical outlet were defective and were not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.             d)    Bay #1 and #2, employees used a damage flexible cord that was not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.            e)     Between the bay #1 and #2, a Blower for fresh air was not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.            f)    Bay #1, a light on the west wall was not intrinsically safe, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards when cleaning flammable substances.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Sep 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i): Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket):        In the wash bay area, employees used portable lighting with damaged cable, exposed wiring, and is missing a ground prong, plugged into a receptacle with a non-working GFCI, exposing employees to electrical hazards.