OSHA Inspection: NEWPORT METALS, INC.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,156 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:   In the following instances, a fiberglass step ladder was not used in accordance to ANSI-ASC A14.5 - 2007:   Section 9.3 Rules for Ladder Use:   9.3.2 Climbing and Working Locations - The user shall not step or stand on: (1) A ladder top cap and the top step of a step or trestle ladder, or the bucket or pail shelf of a self-supporting ladder.  Recycling Plant, Process Building - An employee used the top step of the 12' fiberglass step-ladder in order to access the bale drum entrance.   9.3.13 Setup and Adjustment of Ladders  9.3.13.2 Step-ladders - The user shall ensure that the stepladder is fully opened, with spreaders locked and all feet contacting firm level support surface.  Recycling Plant, Process Building - A 12' fiberglass step-ladder provided to two employees was folded and used as a single ladder in order to access the entrance of the bale drum.   Section 9.4 Care  9.4.2 Damaged Ladders - The user shall not attempt to repair a defective side rail.  Recycling Plant, Process Building - The 12' fiberglass step-ladder had a damaged side rail where it was broken and field repaired by black electrical tape.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $1,848 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.   Recycling Plant-   Processing Building - Grease from equipment resulting from the removal process was not cleaned off the floor.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $1,848 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants, chemical state and physical form:     Recycling Plant, Process Building - The employer did not identify and evaluate the respirator hazards inside the bale drum where two employees were assigned to use oxygen and liquid petroleum gas to cut out panels.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,156 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:   Recycling Plant, Process Building - The employer did not implement the permit space entry program for the two employees who were torch cutting inside the bale drum.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,200 · Current $1,540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(a)(3): Apparatus such as torches, regulators or pressure-reducing valves, acetylene generators, and manifolds used in an oxygen-fuel gas system had not been approved:     Recycling Plant, Process Building - The Smith Gas Axe SC935 BB1 torch with a missing oxygen throttle valve knob was not approved for use.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,156 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(i): Cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus were not kept free from oily or greasy substances.     In the following instances, oxygen couplings and hoses were not free from greasy substances:   a) Recycling Plant, Process Building - The heavy duty 5/8" oxygen hose line was not free from grease.  The coupling between the hose and Smith torch had a contaminated greasy substance embedded in the top two threads.  The oxygen and propane hose lines were not kept free from grease.   b) Recycling Plant, Process Building - The 3/8" oxygen and propane hose lines were not kept free from grease.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,156 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(e)(5)(iv): Hose connections were not clamped or otherwise securely fastened in a manner that would withstand, without leakage, twice the pressure to which they would normally be subjected in service, but in no case less than a pressure of 300 PSI:   Recycling Plant, Processing Building - The Smith Gas Axe SC935 BCF was leaking oxygen through the connector between the hose and cutting torch.

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,156 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:   Recycling Plant, Process Building - The two employees torch cutting in the bale drum were not provided with training to recognize the hazards of using oxygen and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Issued

Jan 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,160 · Current $4,312 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(i): Oxygen cylinders were stored near highly combustible material, especially oil and grease; or near reserve stocks of carbide and acetylene or other fuel-gas cylinders, or near other substance likely to cause or accelerate fire;   Recycling Plant, Process Building - The employer had two oxygen cylinders and two LPG cylinders stored together.   Newport Metals, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 552018, Citation number 1, Item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 09/27/12, with respect to a workplace located at 582 Outer Elm Street, Newport, ME 04953.