OSHA Inspection: VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii):       Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and container being electrically interconnected:       In Building 511 (Irrigation) the employer is failing to ensure that the 55 gallon drums used to collect thinners and other flammable residue are bonded and grounded in accordance with this subpart.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(10):          When spraying areas are illuminated through glass panels or other transparent materials, those panels shall effectively isolate the spraying area from the area in which the lighting unit is located:      In Building 511 (Irrigation) the employer is failing to ensure that the illumination source in the paint booth is effectively isolated from the spraying area in that the glass panel used to isolate the fluorescent light source was cracked.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $3,272 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(f)(3):      Sprinklers protecting spraying areas were not kept as free from deposits as practical by cleaning daily if necessary.      In Building 528 (Poles Division) the employer is failing to ensure that the sprinkler heads in the automated paint booth were kept as free from deposits as practical.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(2):     All spraying areas were not kept as free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues as practical, with cleaning conducted daily if necessary:       In Building 528 (Poles Division) the employer is failing to ensure that the areas behind the filters of the paint booth(s) were kept as free from accumulation of deposits and residue as practical.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $3,272 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:      At the facility the employer is failing to provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body in the following but not limited to areas.      i) In Building #522 (Irrigation) by the gear box coating area the employer is failing to ensure that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were provided within the work area.  Specifically:  The eye wash station provided (Fendall Porta Stream I) was designed to provide a delivery of only 6 minutes uninterrupted flow. employees were exposed to potential contact with Du Boise Secure Tec with a pH of 2.64.       ii) In building 513 (Coating) by the storage and dispensing area of HCL with a pH of < 1.5 and HTSO with a pH of >13.4 of  the employer is failing to ensure that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were provided within the work area.  Specifically:  Two small bottles of water were hanging on the wall adjacent to the storage area of the caustic.  The nearest flushing facility was located 75 feet away and required the navigation a set of stairs along a grated cat walk and then along the side of large dip tanks used in the galvanizing operation before reaching a suitable eye wash.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $3,272 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)      Lockout tagout devices used for other than lockout tagout purposes:      In mechanical room of building 509 (Coatings) the employer is failing to ensure that a lockout/tagout device was not used to contain a temporary splice to power an Ingersoll Rand air compressor # SSR EP75, #711, 480 volts.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,805 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1):        All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:          In building 513 by the viewing window of the kettle dipping operation the employer is failing to ensure that the area is maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,805 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6):    The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    At the facility the employer is failing to ensure that containers are labeled in accordance with this sub part.      i) In building 517 (Irrigation) by Press #492 a plastic bucket containing Stamping and Drawing Fluid was not marked    with its content.      ii) In building 527 (Tubing-Shared Services) a 55 gallon drum was not labeled with its contents in Location E. This          drum contained sludge collected during the milling operation.      iii) In building 513 (Coating, Galvanizing area) dip tank(s) were not labeled with their contents.  The dip tank(s) held        caustic liquids used in the galvanizing process.

Issued

Nov 4, 2014

Abate by

Dec 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910. 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:     Just outside building 513 by the sulfuric acid storage tank the employer is failing to ensure that the opening to the lift station is marked as a permit required confined space.