OSHA Inspection: WASTE TREATMENT CORPORATION

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(3): Every hatchway and chute floor opening was not guarded by one of the methods as specified in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) and (a)(3)(ii) of this section:      a.) floor hole adjacent to filter press on second level, Waste Treatment Corporation.  On or about March 20, 2014, a floor opening near the press operators station was used as a chute to deposit filter press cakes from the filter press to the dump truck located on the level below.  The chute opening was 38-inches by 70-inches, and exposed employees to a 10-feet fall hazard.  The opening was not protected by means including, but not limited to, standard guardrails and/or hinged floor opening covers.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): A standard railing did not consist of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and did not have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level:     a.) ramp at discharge tanks, Waste Treatment Corporation, on or about March 20, 2014:  Employees utilized a metal ramp to access a tank for purpose, including, but not limited to, checking tanks levels.  The guardrail system for the ramp was not equipped with an intermediate rail.  Employees who utilized the ramp were exposed to a 6-feet fall hazard.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): When the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:    a.) confined spaces throughout facility, Waste Treatment Corporation.  On or about March 20, 2014, employees were not informed about the permit required confined spaces by danger signs or any other means to notify employees of the locations of the permit required confined spaces.  Permit required confined spaces at the plant included, but were not limited to, tanks and clarifiers.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1): An employer who designates rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9)of this section shall evaluate the prospective rescuer's ability by the criteria set in this section, (k)(1)(i) - (k)(1)(v).  a.) confined spaces throughout, Waste Treatment Corporation.  On or about March 20, 2014, the employer had not evaluated the rescuer's ability to perform a confined space rescue from all of the confined spaces in the facility.  In addition, the rescue group had not evaluated and accessed the confined spaces to determine their confined space rescue capabilities and needs. Personnel enter confined spaces that included, but were not limited to, tanks and clarifiers.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): 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 and nip points:    a.) filter press, Waste Treatment Corporation.  On or about March 20, 2014, the emergency stop pull-cord, utilized as a device to protect operators from being caught-by the press, was not in working order and did not function as intended.

Issued

Sep 19, 2014

Abate by

Oct 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): Working space required by this standard was used for storage:  a.) electrical equipment on west side of building, Waste Treatment Corporation.  On or about March 20, 2014, the area in front of the electrical panel was used to store excess equipment including, but not limited to, garbage cans.