OSHA Inspection: BALON CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(2)(i): Approved containers and/or portable tanks were not used for the storage of flammable liquids:     On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, in the paint areas of South building non approved containers without a self-closing lid were observed being used inside the building to handle and store lacquer thinner having flashpoint of 1 degrees F.  Employees were exposed to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii):  Class I flammable liquid(s) were dispensed into containers, vehicles, and equipment without electrically interconnecting the nozzle and the container, vehicles, or equipment:    On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, in the paint areas in the South, North and Eastern buildings lacquer thinner having flashpoint of 1 degrees F and paints with flashpoint of -1 degree F were dispensed into a smaller container without being effectively grounded and bonded to electrically interconnect the containers. Employees were exposed to a fire hazard.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(ii): Discarded filter pads and filter rolls were not immediately removed to a safe, well-detached location or placed in a water-filled metal container and disposed of at the close of the day's operation when not maintained completely in water:    On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, spray booths areas in the South, North, and Eastern buildings discarded filter pads were observed being air dried in the spray booth areas.  Employees were exposed to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(5): The use of solvents for cleaning operations was not restricted to those having flashpoints not less than 100 degrees F or the solvents having flashpoints not less than those normally used in the spray operation and was not conducted inside spray booths and ventilating equipment operated during cleaning:      On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, at the spray paint areas in the South building employees were using lacquer thinner having flashpoint of 1 degrees F as a solvent for cleaning operations and were not cleaning in the spray booth with the ventilation  in operation.  This exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(iv): Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters were not protected with approved automatic sprinklers:     On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, spray booths in the South, North, and Eastern buildings employees performed spray painting operation in the spray booths which were not protected with approved automatic sprinklers on the downstream and upstream side of filters.  Employees were exposed to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,750 · Current $2,250 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:   On or about August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, employees were allowed to operate machines that were found not having guards provided, including but not limited to the following instances:     1) At the small press area in the check valve assembly, a small press being operated via two-hand control was not provided with a guard provided to protect other employees in the area from exposing to the point-of-operation while in operation.     2) In the Mable building, six slotted machines had a guard provided.  However, the guard was easily opened by the employees and was not provided with inter-lock device.      3) In the Grand building, a slotted machine being used without properly guarded.      4) At the tooling area in the Eastern building, a band saw being operated without a blade guard provided to cover the unused portion of the blade.     5) At the Gear area in the Eastern building, three key way machines being used without a guard provided.         Employees were exposed to possible amputation hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,750 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(c)(1)(i): The employer did not provide and ensure the usage of point of operation guards or properly applied point of operation devices on every operation performed on mechanical power press(es):    On or about August 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, at the stamping area in Mable building employees were operating a mechanical power press via two-hand-control.  However, the sides of the press were not guarded to protect other employees in the areas contacting the point-of-operation while in operation.  Employees were exposed to amputation hazard.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,750 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    On or about August 12, 2014, and at times prior thereto, at the Turn Ball machine in the Mable building a sprocket wheel and chain system was observed approximately 3-ft. from the floor without guard provided to prevent employees contacting the sprocket wheel and chain system while in operation.  Employees were exposed to an amputation caused by the unguarded sprocket wheel and chain system.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

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:     1) At the Machine Build area a four-plex electrical receptacle was observed being used that it was laid on the surface not mounted on wall or structure.     2) At the Machine Build area a re-locatable power tap (RPT) was observed being used to provide power to large current consumption equipment.   Employees were exposed to electric shock and electrical fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f): Each disconnecting means for motors and appliances was not located and arranged so the purpose was evident, nor legibly marked to indicate its purpose:    On or about August 8, 2014, and at times prior thereto, in the South building west side each circuit breaker device of the circuit breaker panel was not marked to indicate its purpose.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(b)(2): Outlet devices had an ampere rating less than the load being served:    On or about August 6, 2014, or at times prior thereto, in the Machine Building and main office break room areas outlet devices were observed having an ampere rating less than the load being served.  This exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were used for purposes prohibited by subparagraphs (A) through (E) of this paragraph:    On or about August 8, 2014, and at times prior thereto, throughout the facilities electrical flexible cords and cables were observed being used attached to the building surfaces/structures, concealed behind walls.  This exposed employees to fire and electrical hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:    On or about August 8, 2014, and at times prior thereto, throughout the facilities electrical extension cords were found being used as a substitute for fixed wiring of a structure.  The employees were exposed fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Oct 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(1): Exit routes were not kept free of explosive or highly flammable furnishings or other decorations.      On or about August 8, 2014, and at times prior thereto, propane cylinders were observed stored outside next to the fire exit door 26 of Center Section exposing  employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Oct 1, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 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 August 6, 2014, and at times prior thereto, at the establishment the employer had employees performing maintenance operations that require lock-out/tag-out of equipment.  However, the employer did not conduct periodic inspection of the procedures at least annually to ensure that the procedures were effective and being followed.  Employees were exposed to hazards from unexpected release of energy.