OSHA Inspection: UNITED PLASTIC RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.  a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1) - Blender Area; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that employees were allowed to work in areas where combustible dust had accumulated on overhead walls, purlins, duct work, equipment, and other exposed upper surfaces exceeding 1/4 inch in depth.  b)  4290 Alatex Road (Plant 2) - AREMA #3 Area; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that employees were allowed to work in areas where combustible dust had accumulated on overhead walls, purlins, duct work, equipment, and other exposed upper surfaces exceeding 1/4 inch in depth.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Mar 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 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)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work on a platform at the 2050 Cumberland  Grinder that was 9 foot 1.5 inches above the next level that did not have a standard railing which included a mid-rail.   b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work on a platform at the 50H Shredder that was 7 foot 11 inches above the next level that did not have a standard railing on the side with the ladder.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Feb 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1): Every flight of stairs having four or more risers was not equipped with standard stair railings or standard handrails as specified in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of this section:    a)  3000 Selma Highway (Plant 5); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down a set of fixed stairs with four or more risers at the loading dock that did not have a standard stair railing on both open sides.  b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down a set of fixed stairs with four or more risers at the loading dock that did not have a standard stair railing on both open sides.  c)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down a set of fixed stairs with four or more risers at the Blender that did not have a standard stair railing on both open sides.  d)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down a set of fixed stairs with four or more risers at the 2050 Cumberland Grinder that did not have a standard stair railing on both open sides.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Mar 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 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)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to 7 foot 11 inch fall hazards at the 50H Shredder in that employees were required to access the operating platform by ladder as fixed stairs were not provided.  b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to 7 foot 11 inch fall hazards at the 50B Shredder in that employees were required to access the operating platform by ladder as fixed stairs were not provided.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:   a)  331 Thomason Avenue (Plant 3); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the Rapid 600 Grinder without locking it out in accordance with the established procedures.  b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 50B Shredder without locking it out in accordance with the established procedures.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:   a)  331 Thomason Avenue (Plant 3); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the Rapid 600 Grinder without locking it out in accordance with the established procedures.  b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 50B Shredder without locking it out in accordance with the established procedures.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:  a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the Rotor Grinder together without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point.  b)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 50B Shredder together without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point.  c)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 2050 Cumberland Grinder together without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Mar 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,350 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:   a)  331 Thomason Avenue (Plant 3); on or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work around improperly stacked wooden pallets and plastic as high as 10 - 12 feet that were not stable and secure against sliding and collapse.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,100 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)  331 Thomason Avenue (Plant 3); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto employees were exposed to caught-in hazards in that the employer allowed employees to work next to an unguarded roller on the Rapid 600 Grinder.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Fan blade guard(s) were not provided where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet from the floor or working level:   a)  4290 Alatex Road (Plant 2) - Near Grinder #1; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to amputation hazards in that employees were allowed to work and walk around a floor fan with the front guard removed

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 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):  a)  4290 Alatex Road (Plant 2) - Grinder #2; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to amputation hazards in that they were allowed to walk / work around an unguarded pulley.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):   a)  4290 Alatex Road (Plant 2) - Grinder #2; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to amputation hazards in that they were allowed to walk / work around unguarded belts.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1): Abrasive wheel(s) were used on portable grinder(s) which were not provided with safety guard(s) meeting the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1) through (c)(4):   a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to use a Bosch vertical portable grinder with the guard removed.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not protected from abrasions:   a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1) - 600 Rapid Grinder; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work around electrical conductors that were exposed where an electrical box on a large motor had broken loose exposing the conductors to vibration and abrasion.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,200 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to crush hazards while operating a forklift without a seatbelt:  a) 331 Thomason Avenue (Plant 3); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to crush hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a forklift without wearing the seatbelt.  b) 3000 Selma Highway (Plant 5); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to crush hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a forklift without wearing the seatbelt.   United Plastic Recycling, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 944149, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 10, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 4290 Alatex Road, Montgomery AL.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,200 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Grinding machinery was not used with work rest(s) to support offhand grinding work:   a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1), maintenance area; On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a bench grinder with one missing work rest and one work rest adjusted greater than 1/8" from the grinding wheel.   United Plastic Recycling, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 944149, citation number 1, item number 3/a and was affirmed as a final order on March 10, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 4290 Alatex Road, Montgomery AL.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  a)  4230 Mobile Highway (Plant 1); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a bench grinder with the tongue guards missing.   United Plastic Recycling, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 944149, citation number 1, item number 3 / b and was affirmed as a final order on March 10, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 4290 Alatex Road, Montgomery AL.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:  a)  3000 Selma Highway (Plant 5); On or about September 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that portable fire extinguishers had not had an annual maintenance check in six years.