OSHA Inspection: THE PORTER AND CHESTER INSTITUTE, INC.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled equipment was not installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.       Location:  HVAC, Heating Lab      On or about 6/6/14, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards from the improper electrical installation of the diesel transfer pump.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    Location: HVAC, Refrigerant Lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not assess and certify the workplace of hazards through a written hazard assessment for but not limited to reclaiming refrigerant and did not require a face shield or goggles.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

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:  Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab  On or about 6/16/14, the employer did not provide eye and/or face protection for the employees that reclaim toxic refrigerant gases such as but not limited to R-410A, R-414B, R-134A, R-422C, R-407C, R-22 and R404A.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 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:    Location: HVAC, Heating lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not develop and utilize energy control procedures to protect employees from the unexpected start up and amputation hazards from performing maintenance and servicing such as but not limited to the gas fired and oil fired furnaces in the lab.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(i): Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware were not provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources:    1. Location: HVAC, Heating lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide locks, tags, chains, key blocks, or other hardware for isolating, securing or blocking from the energy source for but not limited to the gas fired and oil fired furnaces in the lab.    2.  Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide locks, tags, chains, key blocks, or other hardware for isolating, securing or blocking from the 120-volt electrical energy source for eight electrical testing stations.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(ii): Lockout devices utilized were not affixed in a manner that held the energy isolating device in a safe or off position:    1. Location: HVAC, Heating lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer failed to ensure that the key was removed from the master gas valve box and the lock out devices applied to the oil and gas furnaces while performing maintenance and servicing activities.    2. Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer failed to ensure that the key was removed from the main control lock box that controlled all of the locks and keys for the lab while maintenance and servicing was performed on the oil and gas fired furnaces.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:    Location: Automotive lab    On or about 6/12/14, the employer did not mount or anchor the Jet 6 pedestal grinder to the floor to prevent the equipment from walking or moving while in operation.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Grinding machinery was not used with work rest(s) to support offhand grinding work:    Location: Automotive lab    On or about 6/12/14, the employer did not provide an adjustable work rest on the Jet 6-inch bench grinder to protect employees from in-going nip-points.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:   Location: Automotive lab  On or about 6/12/14, the employer did not adjust the adjustable tongue guard on the Jet 6-inch bench grinder to protect employees from in-going nip-points.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

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 (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:    Location: HVAC, Heating lab tool crib    On or about 6/6/14, the employer stored oxygen and acetylene compressed gas cylinders next to each other, exposing employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer used written materials, such as signs, placards, process sheets, or batch tickets in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers that failed to identify the container(s) to which they were applicable and did not convey the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5):    Location:  HVAC, Refrigerant lab      On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not label and identify the secondary container that had diesel fuel in it.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical in use:     a)    Location:  HVAC, Refrigerant lab and Heating lab tool crib       On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not have safety data sheets for the following but not limited to compressed gases;    1. R-410A,  2. R-414B,   3. R-134A,  4. R-422C,   5. R-407C,   6. R-22,   7. R404A       b) Location:  HVAC, Heating lab tool crib       On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not have safety data sheets for the following but not limited to compressed gases;    8. oxygen,  9. acetylene       c) Location:  Automotive lab       On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not have safety data sheets for the following but not limited to compressed gases;    10.  oxygen,   11.  acetylene

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Mar 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $0 Reduced

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:     1. Location:  HVAC, Refrigerant lab and Heating lab tool crib     On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide hazard communication training on hazardous chemicals in their work area to all employees upon their initial assignment when working with but not limited to R-410A, R-414B, R-134A, R-422C, R-407C, R-22, R404A, diesel fuel, oxygen, and acetylene compressed gases.     2. Location:  Automotive shop     On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide hazard communication training on hazardous chemicals in their work area to all employees upon their initial assignment when working with but not limited to oxygen, and acetylene compressed gases.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s):    Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer failed to ensure that the lock out device applied on a breaker in an electrical cabinet had the identity of the employee that applied to the lock out device.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3): Each lockout or tagout device was not removed from each energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device:   Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab  On or about 6/6/14, the employer failed to ensure that the lock out device applied on a breaker in an electrical cabinet was removed by the employee that applied to the lock out device when the work was completed.

Issued

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $7,000 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) Location: HVAC, Refrigerant lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide an adequate guarding device to protect employees from rotating shafts on the following but not limited to electric motors;    1. Electrical training test station #1  2. Electrical training test station #2  3. Electrical training test station #3  4. Electrical training test station #4  5. Electrical training test station #5  6. Electrical training test station #6  7. Electrical training test station #7  8. Electrical training test station #8    b) Location: Electrical lab    On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide a guarding device to protect employees from rotating shafts on the following but not limited to electric motors;    9. Electrical training test station #1  10. Electrical training test station #2  11. Electrical training test station #3  12. Electrical training test station #4  13. Electrical training test station #5  14. Electrical training test station #6  15. Electrical training test station #7  16. Electrical training test station #8  17. Electrical training test station #9    c) Location: HVAC, Heating lab    18. On or about 6/6/14, the employer did not provide an adequate guarding device to protect employees from rotating shafts on the diesel transfer pump electric motor.    The Porter and Chester Institute, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 936731, citation number 1, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on November 18, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 5 Campanelli Circle, Canton, MA.