OSHA Inspection: AFAM CONCEPT, INC.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2):  Every ladder way floor opening or platform shall be guarded by a standard railing with standard toe board 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.     Kettle Department - On or about April 29, 2014, a standard railing was not provided on a platform located next to four mixers, thereby exposing employees to 7 foot 5 inch falls.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $3,240 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(2)(vii): Ladders having defects are to be marked and taken out of service until repaired by either maintenance department or the manufacturer.  Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer failed to perform an inspection of the ladders to check for defects, thereby exposing employees to 10 foot falls.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;    Throughout Facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer failed to ensure that the employees were using the fall protection personal protective equipment selected, thereby exposing employee to 10 foot fall hazards when climbing into the kettles to clean them.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i):     The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.    Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer had not performed periodic inspections to ensure that documented lockout/tagout procedures were being followed by authorized employees.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):     The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:    Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer did not provide effective training to authorized, affected, and other employees to include all of the elements in (a) through (c), thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with unexpected re-energization of equipment.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(ii):  Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position.    Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer did not ensure that lockout devices were used to isolate all energy sources including but not limited to steam valve when entering Kettle 10, thereby exposing employees to the potential for the re-energization of equipment.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism when he or she begins work, and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained.    Throughout Facility - On or about April 29, 2014, personal lockout or tagout devices were not attached to a group lockout device on the steam valves when two employees were sanitizing the kettles, thereby exposing employees to the hazards of the unexpected re-energization of equipment.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.    Zone M Packaging Area- On or about April 29, 2014, chain and sprockets on the packaging fill lines were not completely guarded, thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with moving parts.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cable my not be used:      (A)  As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;     Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, flexible cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring of a structure on the packaging lines, thereby exposing employees to electrical fire hazards and smoke inhalation.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $10,800 · Current $6,480 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.     Throughout facility - On or about August 1, 2013, specific procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy, thereby exposing employees to the unexpected re-energization of machinery, including but not limited to kettles, heat tunnels, and overflow fillers, which had more than one energy source.    The AFAM Concept, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 280265, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on June 6, 2012, with respect to a workplace located at 7401 S. Pulaski Road, Unit A, Chicago, Illinois 60629.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7):     Industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they shall be examined after each shift. Defects when found shall be immediately reported and corrected.    Throughout facility - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer had not performed an examination of the powered industrial equipment to check for defects, thereby exposing employees to serious struck by hazards.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(a):   Basic requirement. You must use OSHA 300, 300-A, and 301 forms, or equivalent forms, for recordable injuries and illnesses. The OSHA 300 form is called the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, the 300-A is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and the OSHA 301 form is called the Injury and Illness Incident Report.  Recordkeeping - On or about April 29, 2014, the employer had not kept up the company OSHA 300 logs, for the last three (3) years as required by the OSHA standards.