OSHA Inspection: RDG GROUP, INC., BFG MANUFACTURING SERVICES, INC., PUNXSUTAWNEY FINISHING WORKS, INC.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): Covers and/or guardrails were not provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.   A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  The floor area next to the pit around the line #22 tank was not guarded against fall hazards.  The condition exposed personnel to a fall hazard into the pit of at least 5-feet.    B.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22 tank.  Tanks contained chemicals including, but not limited to, zinc plating chemicals, and Paragon Plus.  The open topped tank at line #22 was 9.92-feet in depth.  The area around the open topped tank was not equipped with a standard guardrail system. The top of the tank was too low to function as a guardrail system.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): Standard railing(s) did not consist of top rail, intermediate rail and/or posts and/or did not have a vertical height of 42 inches (106.7 cm) nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform runway, or ramp level:   A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22 tank at the west stairs.  The catwalk was equipped with a standard guardrail.  The top rail height for the standard guardrail system was too low in that it was located 35.5-inches from the deck of the catwalk.  The condition exposed employees to a fall hazard of at least 7-feet into a pit surrounding the line #22 tank.  B.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22 tank at the west stairs.  The catwalk was equipped with a standard guardrail system that did not contain an intermediate rail (mid-rail).  The lack of an intermediate rail exposed employees to a fall hazard of at least 7-feet into a pit surrounding the line #22 tank.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 19, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), through (c)(4)(ii)(D):   A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting service and maintenance on equipment including, but not limited to, Line 22. and Line 32.  The current procedures were generic and did not contain information including, but not limited to, (1) energy sources and magnitudes, (2) specific techniques for bringing the machine to a zero energy state, (3) specific techniques for verifying energy isolation, (4) methods/techniques for dealing with stored energy sources.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 19, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 requirements of this standard are being followed:  A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting service and maintenance on equipment including, but not limited to, Line 22. and Line 32.  Periodic inspections were not conducted on the lockout / tagout procedures for the equipment.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, waste water treatment, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  An unguarded belt/pulley system for a pump was positioned 2-feet from the fixed industrial stairs.  Employees utilize the stairs to accesses equipment including, but not limited to, a clarifier and a pH tank in the waste water treatment area.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):  A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #21, on or about June 2, 2014 and times prior thereto:  A chain limiting access to the south side of the #21 line was not equipped with safety instruction signs, warning signs, or danger signs to warn employees of the gear rotation hazard from the moving barrels, instruct employee to stay out of the area when the hazard is present, and instructions to ensure that the chain is in place when the moving barrels are in operation.  Hazards included, but were not limited to, rotation of gears during the automated and manual turning of barrels.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 19, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, on or about May 22, 2014 and times prior thereto:  Employees provided with, and permitted to use, portable fire extinguishers were not provided with annual refresher training.