OSHA Inspection: BRUIN PLASTICS CO., INC.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Mar 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(2): Stair rails did not consist of a top rail, intermediate rail and/or posts, with the vertical height not more than 34 inches (86.36 cm) nor less than 30 inches (76.2 cm) from upper surface of top rail to surface of tread in line with face of riser at forward edge of tread:    a. Compounding Area:  On or about 8/29/14 the stair rails on the stairs from the ground level to the mezzanine level did not have intermediate rails.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(b)(1): At least two exits routes were not available to permit prompt evacuation of employees during an emergency:    a. Compounding Area, Back Storage:  On or about 8/29/14 there were not two exit routes available to employees during emergencies.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(e)(1): A side-hinged door was not used to connect any room to an exit route:    a. Compounding Area, Back Storage:  On or about 8/29/14 the exit door from the compounding storage area was an overhead door.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees did not have to travel toward a high hazard area:    a. Compounding Area, Back Storage:  On or about 8/29/14 exit routes were arranged so that employees had to travel past 2100 gallon totes of the flammable liquid "Special Naptholite 66/3".

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:    a) Compounding Area, Dispensing Area:  On or about 8/28/14 a fluorescent light fixture was located adjacent to where a class 1B flammable liquid (Special Naptholite 66/3) had exposed bulbs that were not adequately protected against breakage or accidental contact, creating a source of ignition.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    a) Throughout the workplace: On or about 8/28/14 employees were not using the available personal protective equipment as noted below:     1) Not wearing impervious gloves in the laboratory when handling the Aron Alpha Type 201 adhesive,    2) Not wearing appropriate safety foot wear when handling rolls of fabric and drums of chemicals in the lamination and compounding areas.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):    a) Throughout the workplace: On or about 8/28/14 the workplace hazard assessment did not include several areas where employees were routinely exposed to hazards including:    a) Exposure to the hands, arms and face to irritating, sensitizing and caustic materials when handling chemicals,    b) Exposure to fall hazards when retrieving gas cylinders stored on the roof of the building,    c) Exposure of the feet to crushing injuries when handling rolls of fabric and drums of chemicals.    Abatement Note:   Once the PPE Hazard Assessment is completed you shall:      1) Certify that the hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification in accordance with 1910.132 (d)(2),     2) Provide training to affected employees in proper use of required PPE (1910.132 (f)(1))    Guidance on conducting and documenting a PPE Hazard Assessment can be found on OSHA's website at:     http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:    a) Throughout the workplace: On or about 8/28/14 the employer did not certify that the hazard assessment had been completed.    Guidance on conducting and documenting a PPE Hazard Assessment can be found on OSHA's website at:     http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    a) Production Laboratory:  On or about 8/28/14 the employer did not evaluate the employee's exposure to respiratory hazards including ethyl 2 cyanoacrylate from the use of Aron Alpha Type 201 in the workplace before providing a respirator.    b) Compounding Area: On or about 12/15/14 the employer did not evaluate the employee's exposure to respirable dust from the use of powdered ingredients including Formolon PVC and for hydrocarbons including octane from Naptholite 66/3 in the workplace before providing a respirator.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Apr 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a) Compounding Area: On or about 12/15/14 the employer did not provide a medical evaluation prior to providing an employee with a half mask elastomeric respirator.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Mar 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 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:    (a) Both laboratories:  On or about 8/28/14 the eye wash facilities located in the laboratories were not suitable for use due to discolored, rust-laden water.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

May 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity and appropriate hazard warnings regarding the chemicals contained therein:    a) Lamination, compounding and laboratories: On or about 8/28/14 the employer had not ensured that numerous containers of hazardous chemicals including Naptholite 66/3 that is used to clean lamination equipment were adequately marked.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

Jun 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    a) Lamination and laboratories: On or about 8/28/14 the employer had not effectively trained lamination and laboratory employees on the hazards associated with the chemicals that they work with including Aron Alpha Type 201 and the in house compounded adhesives when they were initially assigned to their jobs.

Issued

Feb 24, 2015

Abate by

May 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not being conducted at least once every three years:  a) Through out facility:  On or about 8/28/14 the employer had not conducted an evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance at least once every three years.