OSHA Inspection: STX RECYCLING, LLC

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2): Every ladderway floor opening or platform was not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard on all exposed sides (except at entrance to opening), with the passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person cannot walk directly into the opening:     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to a fall hazard greater than 4 feet from:     (a) Main sorting line; conveyor in the middle of the facility: While walking by an open pit from conveyor system (make and model not found); which had an inadequate guarded ladderway.   (b) Baling area on the North side; mechanical baler on the North side of the facility: while working from the baler (make and model not found) platform which had an inadequate guarded ladderway.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(b): "Where fixed stairs are required." Fixed stairs were not provided for access to operating platforms at any equipment which requires attention routinely during operations. Fixed stairs shall also be provided where access to elevations is daily or at each shift for such purposes as gauging, inspection, regular maintenance, etc., where such work may expose employees to acids, caustics, gases, or other harmful substances, or for which purposes the carrying of tools or equipment by hand is normally required:     Outside the perimeter of the facility, Southeast corner, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees operating a baler were using 4 wooden pallets to stand on instead of having fixed stairs.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor:     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees did not have direct unobstructed exit routes when bay doors were closed:     (a) Exit door; North side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.     (b) Exit door; Northeast side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.     (c) Exit door; East side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.     (d) Exit door; Southeast side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.     (e) Exit door; West side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.     (f) Exit door; Southwest side of the facility: An exit door leading outside the facility that was blocked with trash.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees did not have any marked doors identified as exits:     (a) North side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".     (b) Northeast side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".     (c) East side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".     (d) Southeast side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".     (e) West side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".     (f) Southwest side of the facility: A door leading outside the facility that was not marked "Exit".

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not provided, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities:     Main sorting line of the facility, West side, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees without fall protection were exposed to a fall hazard greater than 4 feet to the concrete ground below while providing maintenance to the conveyor belt system.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): Energy control program. The employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees engaged in maintenance of equipment were exposed to hazards associated with unexpected energizing, startup, or release of energy:     (a) Main sorting line; conveyor system in the middle of the facility: While providing maintenance on the conveyor system (make and model not found) there was no isolation of the energy for the conveyor system.     (b) Baling area on the North side; mechanical baler on the North side of the facility: While servicing and maintaining the baler (make and model not found) there was no isolation of the energy for the baler.     (c) Outside the perimeter of the facility; Southeast corner: While servicing and maintaining the baler (International Baler Corporation, model not found) there was no isolation of the energy for the baler.     (d) Inside corner of the facility; Southeast corner: While servicing and maintaining the Load King Vertical Baler there was no isolation of the energy for the baler.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): The employer did not provide portable fire extinguishers and mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury:     Throughout the facility, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees did not have any fire extinguishers in the facility in case of an emergency.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    Throughout the facility, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, an employee using Bobcat was not trained on the proper operation of the industrial truck.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. 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:     Inside the facility, Southeast corner, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees loading the baler were exposed to an amputation hazard while packing plastic and operating the Load King Vertical Baler without the guard in place.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends did not present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves:     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to a caught by hazard from:     (a) Main sorting line; where the 2nd shaft was 1.5 inches in diameter and projecting 1.25 inches, on the North side of the debris roll screen, while employees were sorting from the conveyor system.     (b) Main sorting line; where the 5th shaft was 1.5 inches in diameter and projecting 1.25 inches on the North side of the debris roll screen: While employees were sorting from the conveyor system.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(2): Panelboard enclosures. Panelboards were not mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons:    On the facility wall, South side, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees sorting through trash were exposed to an electrical hazard from a 480 volt breaker panel that did not have the panel cover.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not protected from abrasion, and openings through which conductors enter shall be effectively closed:    Inside the facility, Southeast corner, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees loading the baler were exposed to a 480 volt electrical hazard while operating the Load King Vertical Baler that did not have proper fittings to protect conductors from abrasion.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings were not effectively closed:    Baling area inside the facility, North side, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees operating the controls of the mechanical baler(make and model not found) were exposed to the hazards of electricity from the open control buttons on the baler control panel.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers identified for the purpose. If metal covers are used, they shall be grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box shall have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy. Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants pass shall be provided with bushings designed for the purpose or shall have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords may bear:     On or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to electrical hazards from energized junction boxes that had a faceplate or cover missing:     (a) Main sorting line in the middle of the facility; North side on the of conveyor system: Employees sorting through trash on the conveyor (make and model not found) were exposed to an open junction box that was missing a cover plate.     (b) Baling area on the North side; on the South support pillar of the mechanical baler: Employees loading the baler (make and model not found) were exposed to an electrical hazard from a junction box that was missing a cover plate.      (c) Outside the perimeter of the facility; Southeast corner: Employees loading the baler (International Baler Corporation, model not found) were exposed to an electrical hazard from a junction box that was missing a cover plate.      (d) In the main office building; on the Southwest wall: Employees clocking in to work were exposed to an electrical hazard from a receptacle that had the faceplate missing.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not being used in continuous lengths without being spliced:    Outside the facility, Southwest side, on or about October 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees using a portable diesel pump were exposed to the hazards of electricity by connecting the pump to a spliced extension cord.