OSHA Inspection: ADVANCED FLUIDS, INC.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,190 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.:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide adequate fall protection by allowing employees to step onto a make-shift platform that bypassed the protection from the guardrails while making additions to the mixing tanks. This exposed employees to potential injury from a fall into the mixing tanks.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 equivalent) and toeboards:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide adequate fall protection by allowing employees to step onto a make-shift platform that bypassed the protection from the guardrails while making additions to the mixing tanks. This exposed employees to potential injuries from a fall from height onto the concrete floor below.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,190 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to evaluate the confined spaces in the facility, which includes but are not limited to, the Mixing Kettles and Tanks labeled: A, B, C, D, E, G, and H.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,190 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to outline the specific steps needed to adequately Lock Out all hazardous energies from the Boiler or the Mixing Kettles.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 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 requirement of this standard were being followed:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to perform annual inspections of their LO/TO procedures, including but not limited to, the procedures developed to Lock Out the Boiler and the Mixing Kettles.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $952 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide eye wash and shower stations for quick drenching/flushing of the eyes and body for emergency use for employees who use acidic and caustic chemicals, such as, Potassium Hydroxide which has a pH of 14.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $952 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(3): Vertical or inclined shafting seven feet or less from floor or working platform was not enclosed with stationary casings:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to adequately guard rotating shafts on the mixing tanks and kettles, including but not limited to, tanks numbered: A, B, C, D, E, G, and H.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate:  On or about June 3, 2014, employees did not know the load rating of the mezzanine, above the break room, used for the storage of bulk materials.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to adequately guard a floor hole on the mezzanine between the walking area and a mixing kettle labeled Tank D.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employees were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:  On or about June 3, 2014, the emergency exit door across from the boiler was bolted shut.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide medical evaluations before employees were fit tested for half-mask respirators.

Issued

Aug 1, 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:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide portable fire extinguisher training for their new hire employee.   Note the employer may exercise one of the following options:   1. Provide portable fire extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1), meet the distribution requirements per 29 CFR 1910.157(d) (75 to the nearest extinguisher for Class A fires and 50 to the nearest unit for Class B fires), and provide training and education for all employees in the use of such equipment and the hazards associated with incipient stage fire fighting as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(g).  The other sections of 29 CFR also apply.   2. Provide extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1), designate certain employees to be the only employees authorized to use such equipment and require all other employees to immediately evacuate upon the sound of the fire alarm, establish this in writing in an emergency action plan as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and train/educate designated employees per 1910.157(g).  Utilizing this option exempts the employer from distribution requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157(d).   3. Establish a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal.  This policy shall include an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan as specified in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and 29 CFR 1910.39(a).  Utilizing this option exempts the employer from the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157 to include the need for providing portable fire equipment unless a specific standard requires that a portable fire extinguisher be provided (such as those requirements in 29 CFR 1910.106/107 related to the use/storage of flammable/combustible liquids).  If extinguishers are provided, but not intended for employee use, 29 CFR 1910.157(e) and (f) are still applicable (inspection, maintenance, and testing of equipment).

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(ii): The written hazard communication program did not include the methods the employer would use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, and the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in their work areas:   On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to include the labeling of pipes containing hazardous materials into their written Hazard Communication Program.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  On or about June 3, 2014, the employer failed to provide hazard communication training for their new hire employee who works around chemicals, including but not limited to: oils, coolants, Corfree M1 Powder, Boric Acid, and others.