OSHA Inspection: FORMED FIBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s)    a)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure employees placed identity tags on their lockout locks to show who applied the lockout device.  The employees were performing lock out operations on machines such as, but not limited to, PH1, Laminator 1 and the Schrieber were not applying an identifiable tag.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:    a)      On or about April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure that operators of machines such as, but not limited to, PH1, Laminator 1&2, Spearhead 1&2, Kiefel and Schrieber who perform die changes, press set up, cleaning operations and make adjustments were adequately trained in the skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls.  Employees who perform these tasks were using emergency stop buttons to perform lock out operations.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(8): Lockout or tagout was not performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance:    a)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure that each authorized employee placed a lockout device on the energy disconnects on the machines such as, but not limited to, the Kiefel and Laminator 1 prior to performing set up or cleaning operations.  One authorized employee applied their lock on the emergency stop while other employees assisted with the work.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $4200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):    a)      On or about April 24, 2013, employee(s) were exposed to crushing and/or amputation injuries while the PH1 was not locked out prior to adjusting carpet or performing die changes or set up operations.  Prior to accessing the hazard areas of the press to perform these tasks , the employer failed to implement energy control application steps as required by paragraph (d) of this section  - the employer did not:    �  Ensure the employee had the methods or means to control hazardous energy.  �  Ensure that equipment was turned off or shut down.  �  Physically operate energy isolating devices to control energy sources and affix lockout device(s).  �  Ensure that all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was relieved, disconnected, and rendered safe.  �  Verify that isolation and deenergiziation of the machine or equipment had been accomplished.    b)    On or about April 24, 2013, employee(s) were exposed to crushing and/or amputation injuries in while the Keifel was not locked out prior to performing die changes or set up of the machine.  Prior to accessing the hazard areas of the press to perform these tasks the employer failed to implement energy control application steps as required by paragraph (d) of this section  - the employer did not:    �  Ensure employees had the method or means to control hazardous energy.  �  Ensure that equipment was turned off or shut down.  �  Physically operate energy isolating devices to control energy sources and affix lockout device(s).  �  Ensure that all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was relieved, disconnected, and rendered safe.  �  Verify that isolation and deenergiziation of the machine or equipment had been accomplished.    c)      On or about April 24, 2013, employee(s) were exposed to nip points and crush injuries while Laminator 1 was not locked out prior to cleaning or feeding carpet.  Prior to accessing the hazard areas of the machine to perform these tasks the employer failed to implement energy control application steps as required by paragraph (d) of this section  - the employer did not:    �  Ensure employees had the method or means to control hazardous energy.  �  Ensure that equipment was turned off or shut down.  �  Physically operate energy isolating devices to control energy sources and affix lockout device(s).  �  Ensure that all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was relieved, disconnected, and rendered safe.  �  Verify that isolation and deenergiziation of the machine or equipment had been accomplished.    d)      On or about April 24, 2013, employee(s) were exposed to crushing injuries while the Spearhead 1 was not locked out prior to performing die changes.  Prior to accessing the hazard areas of the machine to perform these tasks the employer failed to implement energy control application steps as required by paragraph (d) of this section  - the employer did not:    �  Ensure employees had the method or means to control hazardous energy.  �  Ensure that equipment was turned off or shut down.  �  Physically operate energy isolating devices to control energy sources and affix lockout device(s).  �  Ensure that all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was relieved, disconnected, and rendered safe.  �  Verify that isolation and deenergiziation of the machine or equipment had been accomplished.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4000.00 · Current $2400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    a)  On or about April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure that the employees were trained in the use of a portable fire extinguisher and the hazards of fire fighting.  Several operators and supervisors were not trained on an annual basis but were required to extinguish fires.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $4200.00 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:    a)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure that the back side of PH1 was adequately guarded.  Employees are exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards by the transfer table when they enter the back side of the machines to adjust the carpets and perform other tasks.    b)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure that the back side of PH2 was adequately guarded.  Employees are exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards by the transfer table when they enter the back side of the machines to adjust the carpets and perform other tasks.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $4200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    a)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure employees operating the Schreiber Hydraulic Press were protected from the point of operation.  The press did not have to be actuated after the light curtains were interrupted exposing employees to crushing injuries.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A log of all recordable work-related injuries and illness (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent) was not completed in the detail required by the regulation.    a)  On or about April 24, 2013, the employer did not provide the required injury or illness description on the OSHA 300 Log for the calendar year 2013. Throughout the entire OSHA 300 Log, the descriptions in Column F lacked the required information, including, but not limited to the object or task that caused the injury.      Formed Fiber Technologies, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard CFR 1904.29(b)(1)which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315717926, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on October 6, 2011, with respect to a workplace at 125 Allied Road, Auburn, Maine

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $35000.00 · Current $21000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):    a)      On or about April 24, 2013, lockout procedures failed to clearly identify all of the specific steps to be followed by employees to isolate and control hazardous energies of machines such as, but not limited to, PH1, Keifel, Schreiber, Laminator 1 & 2, Spearhead1 & 2 during servicing activities. The procedure also lacked specific steps for the placement of lockout devices and specific verification steps were not prescribed to determine the effectiveness of the energy control measures. Employees were exposed to hazards, such as struck by, caught in, crushing and amputations, when servicing the machines.     Formed Fiber Technologies, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)[D], which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315717926, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on October 6, 2011, with respect to a workplace at 125 Allied Road, Auburn, Maine.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $35000.00 · Current $21000.00 Reduced

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)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not conduct annual audits of its energy control procedures to assure that proper lockout/tagout procedures and requirements were being followed.  Deficiencies in procedures and the lack of procedure audits exposed employees to injuries in that adequate machine isolation was not being followed when employees accessed hazard areas of machines while performing die changes, cleaning and making adjustments.       Formed Fiber Technologies, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)[D], which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315717926, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on October 6, 2011, with respect to a workplace at 125 Allied Road, Auburn, Maine.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B): Lockout and tagout devices were not standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: color; shape; or size:  a)      On April 24, 2013, the employer did not assure the locks used for performing lock out operation were standardized.  There were three different types and four different colors of locks used for the lock out tag out process.