OSHA Inspection: PORTAGE PRECISION POLYMERS, INC.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-11-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 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 that employees were exposed to combustible rubber compound dust (carbon black and other additives) deflagration, explosion, and/or other fire hazards while working at or near fabric filter media-type dust collectors that were not adequately designed and located to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of an internal deflagration or other fire event:  (a)  On or about March 13, 2014,  the indoor Torit DFT 2-24 (S/N IG25355H-002) cartridge filter media-type dust collector servicing the line #2 batch mixer and collecting combustible rubber compound dust (carbon black and other additives):              i. Contained explosion venting that terminated indoors, adjacent to the collector.    ii. Contained explosion venting which had no accompanying design parameters/documentation to demonstrate that the vent area was sufficient to prevent the vented deflagration pressure from exceeding the unit's enclosure strength.    iii. Lacked a means of deflagration propagation protection (isolation) to the upstream mixing process, the units discharge hopper collection drums, and the return air system exhausting indoors.    iv. Lacked a means of fire protection.    v. Returned air to indoor locations without means to prevent the transmission of the effects of a fire (heat, smoke, embers) or deflagration (pressure front, propagating flame front) to indoor locations.    (b)  On or about March 13, 2014,  the indoor Norblo BA-12 (S/N 95H-41) baghouse filter media-type dust collector servicing the line #1 batch mixer and collecting combustible rubber compound dust (carbon black and other additives):               i. Lacked a means of explosion protection.    ii. Lacked a means of fire protection.    iii. Lacked a means of deflagration propagation protection (isolation) to the upstream mixing process.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(l)(1):  Electrical equipment and other sources of ignition did not conform to the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(i)-(iv), (8) and (9)(i) of this section and subpart S of this part:   On or about March 13, 2014, vacuum cleaning equipment used to clean up combustible Carbon Black was not in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.307(c)(1) contained in Subpart S,  in that, the equipment was not intrinsically safe for use in hazardous locations.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c):  Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:   On or about March 13, 2014, electrical equipment including, but not limited to, outlets and disconnects, were not approved for Class II, Division 2 locations.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):  On or about March 13, 2014, there were no warning signs in the vicinity of the dust collectors to warn employees of the fire and explosion potential of dusts which contain combustible dust. There were no signs to prohibit the use of standard lift trucks in the area and to instruct employees on personal protective equipment requirements during potentially hazardous activities.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 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 March 13, 2014, machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures were not developed for the Mill #1.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation:  On or about March 13, 2014, training was not provided for authorized persons to recognize hazardous energy sources and methods necessary for energy isolation.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  On or about March 13, 2014, an employee cleaning the rollers on the Mill #1 did not lock out/tag out the equipment during the cleaning process.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:  On or about March 13, 2014, the employer did not provide annual training for portable fire extinguishers when available for employee use.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(c)(2)(vii):  Power-operated industrial trucks designated as DY, EE, or EX were not used in atmospheres in which combustible dust is not normally in suspension in the air  by normal operation of equipment or apparatus but where deposits or accumulations of such dust could be ignited by arcs or sparks originating in the truck:  On or about March 13, 2014, the lift trucks used in the vicinity were not approved for combustible dust locations.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i): The hepatitis B vaccination was not made available within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employee(s) with occupational exposure:  On or about March 13, 2014, the employer did not provide Hepatitis B vaccines within 10 working days of initial assignment to employees who have occupational expsoure to bloodborne pathogens while assisting in emergencies.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(B): The employer did not ensure that the training was provided to employees with occupational exposure at least annually:  On or about March 13, 2014, the employer did not provide annual training to employees on the Bloodborne Pathogen Program who were required to assist in cases of emergencies.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:   On or about March 13, 2014, the workplace hazard assessment had not been certified with the person conducting the evaluation.

Issued

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  On or about March 13, 2014, employees were voluntarily wearing N-95 filtering face piece respirators while working with combustible dust and the employer did not provide employees with Appendix D of the respiratory standard.