OSHA Inspection: RUSTIC ELEMENTS FURNITURE, INC.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): 29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3):  The employer did not ensure that each affected employee who wore prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involved eye hazards wore eye protection that incorporated the prescription in its design, or wore eye protection that could be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses:   a.  Wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  employee(s) wore prescription lenses without eye protection which did not adequately protect the employee(s) from eye hazards while routing wood planks. Employee(s) were exposed to the physical hazards associated with flying particles of wood.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use: (Construction Reference 1926.103)  a. Wood shop and finishing shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  employees were provided with and required to wear half mask air purifying respirators for use during wood table fabrication and finishing operations.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respirator program that included the provisions in 1910.134 (c)(1)(i)- (ix) with worksite procedures was not established and implemented for required use.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees' ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace   a. Wood shop and finishing shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  employees were provided with and required to wear half mask air purifying respirators for use during wood table fabrication and finishing operations.  The employer did not provide each employee with a medical evaluation before the employee was fit tested and required to use the respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   a. Wood shop and finishing shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  employees were provided with and required to wear half mask air purifying respirators for use during wood table fabrication and finishing operations.  The employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator and at least annually thereafter.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following information contained in 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):   a. Wood shop and finishing shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  employees were provided with and required to wear half mask air purifying respirators for use during wood table fabrication and finishing operations.  The employee(s) were not provided with respirator training prior to the use of the respiratory protection.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(1): Circular handfed ripsaw(s) were not guarded by an automatically adjusting hood which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and above the material being cut:     a. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, employees were required to use an unguarded Jet 10" handfed cabinet table saw. Thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with a rotating saw blade.    b. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, employees were required to use an unguarded Grizzly 10" handfed table saw. Thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with a rotating saw blade.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(2): Hand-fed circular ripsaw(s) were not furnished with a spreader to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator:    a. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, employees were required to use a Jet 10" handfed cabinet table saw that was not provided with a spreader to prevent employees from being struck by flying materials.      b. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, employees were required to use a Grizzly 10" handfed table saw that was not provided with a spreader to prevent employees from being struck by flying materials.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(3): Hand-fed ripsaw(s) did not have non kickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator.  They shall be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicjnesses of materials being cut:    a. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, the Jet 10" handfed cabinet table saw was not provided with non-kickback fingers to prevent employees from being struck by flying materials.     b. In the wood shop - On or about May 1, 2013, the Grizzly 10" handfed table saw was not provided with non-kickback fingers to prevent employees from being struck by flying materials.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(a): Hand and portable powered tools or equipment were not kept in safe condition:   a. Wood Shop -  On or about May 1, 2013,  a Ryobi handheld abrasive grinder was operated without a guard,  exposing employee(s) to possible hazards of flying particles.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $510 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  a.  In the finishing area - On or about May 1, 2013,  an open electrical panel box was missing a circuit breaker,  thereby exposing the live condutors.  The employees were exposed to the hazard of live electrical parts.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:     a.  On or about May 1, 2013, in the facility, employees required to perform wood furniture fabrication and finishing operations were exposed to contact with hazardous materials, including but not limited to acetone, toluene, naphtha, formaldehyde, mineral spirits,  stains, paints, varnish. The employer did not develop, implement and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical in the workplace:  a.  On or about May 1, 2013, in the wood shop and the finishing shop,  material safety data sheets were not maintained for each hazardous chemical in the workplace including but not limited to acetone,  mineral spirits,  naptha, varnishes and stains.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) and (2) on hazardous chemicals in their work area are the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced into their work area:   a.  On or about May 1, 2013,  in the facility, employees required to perform wood furniture fabrication and finishing operations were exposed to contact with hazardous materials, including but not limited to acetone, toluene, naphtha, formaldehyde, mineral spirits,  stains, paints, varnish.  Employees were not provided with adequate and effective training including:  (i) Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);  (ii) The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;  (iii) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and,  (iv) The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and the material safety data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  a.  On or about May 1, 2013,  the employer did not assess the workplace to determine the need for personal protective equipment.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): 29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protection equipment (PPE):    a.  On or about May 1, 2013,  employees were exposed to hazards during wood fabrication and finishing operations. Employees were not trained to know at least the following:   1.  When PPE is necessary,   2. What PPE is necessary,  3. How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear PPE,  4. The limitations of PPE,   5. The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of PPE.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jul 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:   a.  Entire facility - On or about May 1, 2013, a portable fire extinguisher had not been subject to an annual maintenance check.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap:  a.  Wood Shop - On or about May 1, 2013,  six (6) retractable black electrical extension cords have been spliced to yellow extension cord(s) with a triple outlet plug.   This electrical equipment is not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling thereby exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):  a.  Wood shop area - On or about May 1, 2013, an Ridgid handheld circular saw was not inspected before use.  The outer insulation of the electrical cord was broken open and the ground pin electrode was cut off the plug, thereby exposing the employees to the hazard of electrical shock.