OSHA Inspection: TRIGON PLASTICS COMPANY, LLC

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Jun 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

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:    (a)  PRODUCTION AREA, NEAR SORT AND WASH LINES - Employees working in the production area walked past the wash line pit, and the pit was not guarded by standard railings, thereby exposing employees to a fall of approximately fifty-eight (58) inches to the floor of the pit, on or about August 14, 2014.    (b)  EXTRUDER LINE/MEZZANINE AREA - Employees worked from the mezzanine area above the extruder lines where an approximate sixteen (16) foot length of guardrail was not installed, thereby exposing the employees to a fall hazard of approximately thirteen (13) feet to the ground below, on or about August 14, 2014.    (c)  FLAKE SORTER MACHINE, PRODUCTION AREA NEAR WASH LINE - Employees operated the flake sorter machine, and the platform was not protected by standard railings, thereby exposing employees to an approximate five (5) foot fall to the ground below, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(b): Fixed stairs were not provided for access from one structure level to another where operations necessitated regular travel between levels, and for access to operating platforms at any equipment which requires attention routinely during operations:    (a)  FLAKE SORTER MACHINE - Employees operated and maintained the flake sorter machine from an improvised work platform at a height of approximately five (5) feet, and the employer had not provided fixed stairs for access to the platform, requiring the employees to use a five (5) foot step ladder for access to the area, thereby exposing the employee(s) to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    (b)  MEZZANINE EXTRUDER AREA - Employees routinely accessed the mezzanine that was thirteen (13) feet above the extruder machines by way of a fixed ladder, and the employer had not provided fixed stairs for access to the mezzanine, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Mar 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:    (a)  WASH LINE PRODUCTION AREA, EAST CORNER - Employees worked in the Wash Line Area, and the path to the exit door was impeded by multiple items, including vertical equipment supports, cardboard storage boxes, and electrical wiring, thereby exposing employee(s) to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    (b)  EXTRUDER LINE PRODUCTION AREA, SOUTHWEST WALL - Employees worked in the extruder line production area, and the exit door on the Southwest wall was blocked by a section of roller conveyor equipment, thereby exposing employees to possible injury, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Mar 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    (a)  PRODUCTION AREA - Employees sorting material at the Green Eye machine were not required to wear eye protection, thereby exposing the employee(s) to possible eye injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Jun 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    (a)  FACILITY WIDE - Employees performed lock out procedures while performing maintenance and repair on equipment, and the employer had not developed and implemented a written lock out tag out program, thereby exposing employees to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 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)  CYCLONE UNDER AIR LOCK AT THE WASH LINE - The employer did not guard or prevent access to the air lock mechanism at the bottom of the "cyclone" on the wash line, thereby exposing employees to amputation injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 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:    (a)  OUTSIDE MAIN ENTRANCE, STORAGE AREA - The employer stored approximately twenty-nine tanks of propane within approximately three (3) feet of an oxygen gas cylinder, thereby exposing employees to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Sep 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 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:    (a)  EXTRUDER LINE AREA - The employer did not ensure that the space in front of two (2) electrical panels on the Northwest wall behind Extruder Line 1 permitted ready and safe access to the panels, in that access to the panels was hindered by the equipment installed for Extruder Line 1, thereby exposing employees to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Jun 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:    (a)  FACILITY WIDE - Employees performed electrical work on various electrical equipment in the facility, and the employer had not ensured the employee(s) had received training on how to perform electrical work, thereby exposing the employee(s) to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Apr 11, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    (a)  FACILITY WIDE - Employees used chemicals including gear and hydraulic oils, and propane, acetylene, oxygen, and argon gasses, and the employer had not developed and implemented a hazard communication program, thereby exposing employees to possible injuries, on or about August 14, 2014.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

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:  (a)  TOP OF EMPLOYEE RESTROOM IN SORT PRODUCTION AREA - The roof of the employee restroom was used for storage purposes, and the structure was not marked for approved loads, on or about August 14, 2014.   No abatement certification or documentation required.