OSHA Inspection: TECHNICAL POLYMERS, LLC

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,470 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  On or about December 9, 2013:  a) Employees were exposed to fire and smoke hazards when exit routes at the rear of the building were blocked by debris and other obstructions.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    On or about December 9, 2013    a) Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards when the employer failed to provided information to employees who were using dust masks as a type of respiratory protection.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:     On or about December 9, 2013:     Employees provided 3M half-faced respirators with 6001 cartridges intended for organic vapor protection while performing production tasks.      a)  The employer failed to ensure that the employees were medically fit to wear these respirators; and     b)  The employer did not ensure the respirators were maintained with the proper cartridges such that employees would be protected against particulate hazards.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section.  On or about December 9, 2013:  a) Employees were exposed to amputation hazards while performing work on line 3 within the facility, where the employer failed to develop, implement and maintain specific procedures for the line.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

May 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tag out devices, and other energy control  On or about December 9, 2013:  a) Employees were exposed to electrical and amputation hazards while performing lock out tag out procedures where the employer failed to outline requirements to verify effectiveness of lockout devices on the following machinery and or equipment.  1)      For the warehouse area: a)      DeMag35T - Mold Machine - failed to verify hydraulic isolation b)      Cement Blender BL-3 - failed to verify electric isolation c)      Cement Blender BL-5 - failed to verify electric isolation d)     Cement Blender BL-6 - failed to verify electric isolation    2)      For Line 1: e)      Feeder 1 - ZE25- failed to verify electric isolation f)      Feeder 2 - ZE25 - failed to verify electric isolation  g)      Feeder 3 - ZE25 - failed to verify electric isolation h)     Conair pelletizer - Failed to verify pneumatic isolation    3)      For line  2: i)      Feeder 1 - UT50 - failed to verify electric isolation j)      Feeder 2 -UT50 -  failed to verify electric isolation k)      Feeder 3 - UT50 - failed to verify electric isolation l)     Feeder 4 - UT50 - failed to verify electric isolation m)      Conair Pelletizer - Failed to verify pneumatic isolation n)       Safe line Metal Detector - Failed to verify pneumatic isolation o)      Conair Pelletizer (back up) - failed to verify pneumatic isolation p)      Witte Classifier - L2- Failed to verify electric isolation

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,940 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:  On or about December 9, 2013:  a) Employer failed to conduct periodic inspections of the company's lock out tag out procedures at least annually. Employer last performed inspection on program in 2010

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(a): Permanent aisles or passageways were not appropriately marked    On or about December 9, 2013:    a) Employees were exposed to struck by hazards when the company failed to properly mark aisles and passageways within the facility where powered industrial trucks were being used to move material in the same area as employee foot traffic.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.    On or about December 9, 2013:    a) The employer failed to ensure that each forklift operator had completed training consisting of the formal and practical training aspects laid out in standard.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling  On or about December 9, 2103:  a) Employees were exposed to electrical shock/burn hazards while using a junction box with pre-punched knockouts as a pendant, to power equipment to perform work during cleanup and maintenance of line 3 on the production floor of the facility.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,470 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws.   On or about December 9, 2013:   a) Employees were exposed to electrical hazards when using a flexible cord that was missing it's strain relief, that was being used to power a reciprocating saw to perform a changeover on line 2 on the production floor of the facility.

Issued

Apr 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,470 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(2)(iv): A receptacle installed in a wet or damp location was not suitable for the location  On or about December 9, 2013:  a) Employees were exposed to electrical shock when using a receptacle located on line 3 for various equipment to include vacuums, drop lights and reciprocating saw to perform necessary work, where the receptacle was not approved for wet or damp locations.