OSHA Inspection: ASSONET INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jan 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 dust explosion, deflagration, and/or fire hazards.    Woodworking Shop:      a) The cyclone of the Torit Model 244FB55 was located inside the building,      b) The Dustek Model M-750, the Torit Model 244FB55, and the Transpower Model DC 3000 enclosureless dust collectors were located inside the building, less than 20 feet from any means of egress, adjacent to workstations, less than 20 feet from each other, and the dust was not removed daily.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Dec 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees would not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel was effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:    Location:   Main Entry/Exit Adjacent to Employer's Office    Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards because they had to travel past propane cylinders stored next to the exit door across from the employer's office.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 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:    Location: Woodworking Shop    Employees were exposed to amputation/laceration hazards while operating machinery that was not adequately guarded:    1) Router head not guarded  2) Top openings on multi-drill not guarded  3) Lathe chuck not guarded

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Fan blade guard(s) were not adequately provided where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet from the floor or working level:      Location: Woodworking Shop    1) Blades on intakes and outlets of blower fans on the router and a multi-drill machine were not adequately guarded.  2) Blades of the portable fan located near the Dustek Dust Collector were not adequately guarded.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 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):      Location: Woodworking Shop    1) A belt and pulley on the left side of the lathe was not guarded.  2) Front cover for the front belt and pulley on lathe was not secured.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 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.:       Location: Woodworking Shop     Employees were exposed to puncture hazards from the use of compressed air with a pressure of 55 p.s.i. for cleaning wood dust off of the machinery.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jan 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:    Location: Woodworking Shop    The following electrical equipment was not listed and labeled for installation and use in environments where combustible dust was present:      1) The general duty electrical enclosures such as junction boxes, metal raceways, and enclosed disconnects/circuit breakers located in the woodworking shop were not listed and labeled for use in dusty locations.        2) Portable electric fans were residential models and not designed for use in a manufacturing and/or dusty environment.      3) Motors for particle blower fans attached to the lathe, router, and two multi-drills were not designed for use in a dusty environment.      4) A portable hair dryer lying on top of the lathe was not designed for use in an industrial and/or dusty environment.    5) A relocatable power tap (RPT) into which were plugged two portable fans, a blower fan, and powered hand tools was connected to an extension cord and not designed for use in a manufacturing environment.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:    Location:  Throughout facility    1) Circuit breaker adjacent to window near main entrance was not labeled  2) Circuit breaker near battery charger was not labeled  3) Circuit breaker in storage building was not labeled  4) Circuit breaker near refrigerator was not labeled

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jan 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:    Location: Main facility and woodworking shop    Electrical panels were blocked in the following locations:    1) Panel blocked by Dustek Dust Collector  2) Panels to the right of the Dustek Dust Collector blocked by miscellaneous material  3) Panel above battery charger blocked by metal post and miscellaneous material  4) Panels to left of Dustek Dust Collector blocked by miscellaneous material

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap      Location: Machine Shop/Break Area    The following equipment had improperly spliced wires:    1) Two Portable fans  2) Multi-drill blower fan  3) Refrigerator

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:       Location:  Woodworking Shop and Break Area     1) The strain relief for the power cord for the refrigerator was compromised because the outer jacket was pulled back at the plug.   2) The strain relief for the extension cord connected to portable fan was compromised because the outer jacket was pulled back at plug.   3) The conductors for the blower fan at the multi-drill were not installed with a fitting that would provide strain relief.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

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:    Location: Facility    Employees were exposed to combustible dust hazards and chemical hazards in the facility and were not trained on the hazards of the substances and the means they can use to protect themselves:    1) Combustible dust  2) Propane  3) Bondo Body Filler  4) Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jan 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $4,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.      Location: Woodworking Shop    a)  Unsanitary conditions, such as rat feces near the microwave oven and bags of garbage next to the main entrance were prevalent.     b)  Piles and deposits of wood scraps and combustible wood dust, generated during woodworking, were allowed to accumulate on the floor, horizontal surfaces, duct work, machines, electrical equipment, and inside of electrical enclosures to a sufficient depth and quantities spread over sufficient area to create a fire and/or deflagration hazard(s) to employees working in the area.    c)  The employer's dust cleaning procedures did not minimize the generation of dust clouds.    d)  Holes in the exhaust hoses/duct work compromised the dust collection system      Assonet Industries, Incorporated was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891585, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 04/18/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 17 Mill Street, Assonet, MA 02702.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,600 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:    Location: Main Facility      Employees were exposed to fire hazards due to obstructed fire exit routes and/or doors:    1) Door on west side of main building:      a) Egress path narrowed to 19 inches in aisle and 24 inches directly in front of door due to stacks of wood      b) Door blocked by stacks of wood on inside and vegetation on the outside      c) 38 inch drop from exit platform to ground  2) Door on west side of storage building blocked on outside by vegetation  3) Door on east side of storage building blocked on outside by vegetation  4) Interior door of main building near wood stove blocked by piles of wood  5) Exterior door near overhead door in main building blocked by miscellaneous material    Assonet Industries, Incorporated was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891585, citation number 1, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on 04/18/2013 with respect to a workplace located at 17 Mill Street, Assonet MA, 02702.

Issued

Dec 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(b): Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse:    Location: Main Building    Wooden boards were stacked throughout the facility in unstable conditions.  Some of these stacks were as high as 20-feet, and the tops of these stacks were leaning and could fall on employees.    Assonet Industries, Incorporated was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891585, citation number 1, item number 3, and was affirmed as a final order on 04/18/2013 with respect to a workplace located at 17 Mill Street, Assonet, MA 02702.