OSHA Inspection: SUPERIOR PLASTICS EXTRUSION COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,410 · Current $2,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fall hazards:    Roof Access Hatch:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, s fiberglass step ladder was used from the platform of the Grove scissor lift, Model SM2632E, to gain access to the roof through the roof hatch.  The step ladder was used in the closed position and the use of the ladder elevated the employee above the working platform and above the protective height of the guardrail system.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or the equivalent):     A.  Warehouse, White Grinder:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, standard guardrails were not provided between the left side of the grinder frame and the termination of the existing guardrail system.       B.  Warehouse, Black Grinder:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, the guardrail provided on the work platform was not provided with a midrail and the top rail was higher than allowed by the regulation.        C.  Extruding Department, Line 3:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the chain link midrail provided on the extruder hopper access platform was not installed so that it was approximately halfway between the top rail and platform.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2): Exit access(es) were not at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points.    Pump House:  On, or about, May 29, 2014, employees who accessed the on/off controls for the conveying system were not provided with adequate access to the exit door located at the front of the building.  The width of the passage between the compressor housing and the exterior wall of the building was measured to be 18 inches.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(4): Safeguard(s) designed to protect employees during an emergency (e.g., sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, exit lighting), were not in proper working order at all times:      Back Warehouse:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, the light provided in the exit sign was not working.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(4): Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:   Warehouse:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, directional signage was not provided to indicate the path to exits from points within the warehouse.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d): Flammable liquids were not drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container or portable tanks by gravity through an approved self-closing valve:     Extruding Department, Behind Line 4:   On, or about, May 16, 2014, mineral spirits, a Category 3 flammable liquid, was dispensed into portable containers through a manually operated valve.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:      Extruding Department, Behind Line 4:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, a 55 gallon drum of Sherwin Williams mineral spirits, a Category 3 flammable liquid, was not grounded to the building surface.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,891 · Current $1,135 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(f)(2)(i): Containers in storage were not located in an area that minimized exposure to excessive temperature rise, physical damage, or tampering from unauthorized persons:    Shipping Dock Area:  Two  propane cylinder storage cages were located where they were exposed to vehicular traffic.  No barrier had been provided.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,150 · Current $1,890 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:    Extruding Department, Pallet Strapping Area:  On, or about, May 29, 2014, neither the employer's Workplace Hazard Assessment nor the Safety Glasses policy addressed the use of pneumatic nail guns in the pallet strapping area.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:    Extruding Department, Pallet Strapping Area:  On, or about, May 29, 2014, an employee was using a pneumatic nail gun to install a wood stabilizer on a pallet without wearing eye protection.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,150 · Current $1,890 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): 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:    On, or about, May 13, 2014, the following storage silos were not marked to indicated that they were a permit required confined space:     A.     Loading Dock Area:  Four silos located near the shipping dock.  B.     Rear of Building:  Six silos located near the railcar unloading area.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 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:      Extruding Department:  On, or about, May 20, 2014, the company had not developed specific lockout procedures to be followed when performing servicing and maintenance on multiple energy source machinery, such as, but not limited to, extruding lines.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,891 · Current $1,135 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(5): Powered industrial truck(s) were equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, however the employer did not request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered:      Extruding Department:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the #1 Nissan forktruck, model CPJ01-9N-6655, was not provided with a revised tag or plate to indicate the reduced capacity of the forktruck when the orange boom extension was used.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):     Plant-wide:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the following forktrucks were found to be in need of adjustment/repair:    A.  #8 Nissan:  The forktruck was emitting an excessive level of carbon monoxide.  B.  #10 Toyota:  The emergency brake was in need of adjustment/repair.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 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, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    A.  Extruding Department, Line 4:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, safeguarding had not been provided on the in-running feed rolls provided on the scrap chopper.      B.  Extruding Department, Compactor:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the door interlock on the compactor was not working and the compactor could run with the door open.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Nov 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,410 · Current $2,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):      A.  Warehouse, White Grinder:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, adequate safeguarding had not been provided on the Cumberland grinder used to process scrap material.  Cross bars, an interlocked chute or other method was not provided to prevent access into the mouth of the grinder and the stop control was not reachable from the operator's normal working position.       B.  Warehouse, Black Grinder:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, adequate safeguarding had not been provided on the Cumberland grinder used to process scrap material.  Cross bars, an interlocked chute or other method was not provided to prevent access into the mouth of the grinder and the stop control was not reachable from the operator's normal working position.      C.  Extruding Department, Line 3:  On, or about, May 20, 2014, safeguarding had not been provided on either the front or back of the shear that was provided at the finish end of the extruding line.          D.  Extruding Department, Line 1:  On, or about, May 20, 2014, safeguarding had not been provided on either the front or back of the shear that was provided at the finish end of the extruding line.      E.  Extruding Department, Line B:  On, or about, May 20, 2014, safeguarding had not been provided on the back of the Famco shear that was provided at the finish end of the extruding line.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.216(c)(1):  A safety trip rod, cable or wire was not provided across each pair of in-running rolls extending the length of the face of the rolls:       Extruding Department, Line 3:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, a horizontal emergency stop trip line had not been installed in close proximity to the in-running calendar nip point on the stack roll section of the machine.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

May 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.216(f)(3)(i): All calenders, irrespective of size of the rolls or their configuration, did not be stop within a distance, as measured in inches of surface travel, not greater than 1 3/4 percent of the peripheral no-load surface speeds of the respective calender rolls as determined in feet per minute:       Extruding Department, Line 3:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the calendar rolls on the stack roll section of the machine did not stop within the maximum calculated stopping distance of 10.8 inches.  The rolls opened at a distance of approximately 13 inches and stopped at a distance of approximately 40 inches.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,891 · Current $1,135 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):     Extruding Department, Line 1:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the drive belts provided on the Cumberland trim grinder were not enclosed with a guard.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:      Warehouse, Black Grinder:  A compressed air nozzle used to clean the grinder work area was measured to be 80 p.s.i., dead-ended.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii): Assigned storage spaces for cylinders was not located away from elevators, stairs, or gangways where cylinders could not be knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized persons:      Warehouse, Maintenance Storage:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, an oxygen and an acetylene cylinder were stored, unsecured, near an exterior door.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet:    Warehouse, Maintenance Storage:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, an oxygen and an acetylene cylinder were stored next to each other.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:      A.  Warehouse, Near Entrance to Plant:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, adequate working space was not provided for two Square D panelboards.  A metal railing had been installed 35 inches from the face of the panels.  The 480/277 volt circuit breaker panel required a clear space of 42 inches.       B.  Extruding Department, Line A:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, adequate working space was not provided for panel LV-1, a 120/208 volt circuit breaker panel.  Electrical control enclosures were installed 26 inches from the face of the panel, the panel required 36 inches of clear space.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the width of the working space in front of electrical equipment was less than the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 inches), whichever was greater:  A.  Warehouse, Near Entrance to Plant:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, adequate working space was not provided for the Square D 120/208 volt panelboard.  Metal lockers reduced the width of the working space to 29 inches.   B.  Warehouse, Break Area:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, adequate working space was not provided for the Square D 120/208 volt panelboard.  A vending machine reduced the width of the working space to 25 inches.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(C): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the width of work space was not clear and did not extend from the grade, floor, or platform to the height required by paragraph (g)(1)(vi) of 29 CFR 1910.303.  Other equipment associated with the electrical installation and located above or below the electric equipment extended more than 153 mm (6 inches) beyond the front of the electric equipment:    Warehouse, Near Entrance to Plant:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, a Heviduty transformer had been installed on the floor between the two Square D circuit breaker panels.  The transformer was located in the working space of each panelboard.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage:  A.  Warehouse, Near Entrance to Plant:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, boxes of scrap plastic material were stored on the floor in front of the 480/277 volt Square D circuit breaker panel.   B.  Warehouse Break Area:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, a large trash receptacle was stored in front of the Square D circuit breaker panel.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,520 · Current $1,512 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:     A.  Warehouse, Cores and Skids Area:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, extension cords were used to energize a DeWalt miter saw and a wall mounted fan.    B.  Extruding Department, Compressor Area:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, an extension cord was used to energize a fan and drainage equipment for the air receiver.      C.  Extruding Department, Line A:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, an extension cord was used to energize an oven and an inspection light.    D.  Extruding Department, Shipping:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, an extension cord was used to energize the water cooler.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,151 · Current $1,891 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:     Company:  On, or about, May 13, 2014, maintenance personnel had not been trained regarding what work practices and protective equipment was required to protect them against electric shock, arc flash and arc blast hazards while performing live trouble-shooting and verifying whether or not electrical equipment was properly de-energized.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:   Plant:  Personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, voltage rated gloves, fire resistive clothing, face shields, balaclavas and hard hats were not provided to employees who performed live electrical work, including trouble-shooting, or who verified that electrical equipment was properly de-energized.

Issued

Aug 21, 2014

Abate by

Oct 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)(iii): The minimum clear length of rungs or cleats was not 16 inches:  Extruding Department, Line 4:  On, or about, May 16, 2014, the fixed ladder that was installed for access to the feed hopper had rungs that were 10 inches long.