OSHA Inspection: EROSION TECH, LLC

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(3): Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards were not guarded with a standard railing and toe board.    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 5-10 feet when they climbed onto catwalk such as, but not limited to the following to perform maintenance and to cut threads:    a.  16-1 machine  b.  16-2 machine  c.  8-foot machine

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to smoke and fire hazards when one of the doors with an exit sign above it was blocked with plastic pipe.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $2200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to smoke and fire hazards when none of the exit signs in the production area were lit.      a.  Exit near 8-foot machine  b.  Exit next to propane storage  c.  Exit closest to wattle production area

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2300.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by and entrapment hazards when the employer had not evaluated equipment such as, but not limited to, the following, to determine if they were permit required confined spaces:    a.     Large bag house  b.     Small bag house (not working)  c.     Bale buster on 16-2  d.     Bale buster on 16-1  e.     Bale buster on 8-foot machine  f.      Sweeper access panel on 16-2  g.     Sweeper access panel on 16-1  h.     Sweeper access panel on 8-foot machine

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  NOTE: A sign reading DANGER-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when the employer had not informed employees that equipment such as, but not limited to, the following was a confined space:  a.     Large bag house  b.     Small bag house (not working)  c.     Bale buster on 16-2  d.     Bale buster on 16-1  e.     Bale buster on 8-foot machine  f.      Sweeper access panel on 16-2  g.     Sweeper access panel on 16-1  h.     Sweeper access panel on 8-foot machine

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards in that employees enter confined spaces and there was no confined space program for the following:  a.     Large bag house - Employees enter bag house to change bags.  b.     Small bag house - Employees enter bag house to change bags.  c.     Bale buster on 16-2 - Employees enter for cleaning purposes.  d.     Bale buster on 16-1 - Employees enter for cleaning purposes.  e.     Bale buster on 8-foot machine - Employees enter for cleaning purposes.  f.      Sweeper access panel on 16-2 -  Employees enter through an access panel for cleaning purposes.  g.     Sweeper access panel on 16-1 -  Employees enter through an access panel for cleaning purposes.  h.     Sweeper access panel on 8-foot machine -  Employees enter through an access panel for cleaning purposes.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3200.00 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:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by, caught-in, and electrical hazards when they were performing maintenance or correcting defective product on the 16-1, 16-2, and 9-foot machines and the plant facilities.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1500.00 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:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees walking and working in the warehouse area were exposed to struck-by hazards when the coconut fibers stored in the warehouse area had fallen.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to fall hazards when they were using an older model boom lift mounted on a forklift to access production equipment for maintenance and repairs.  The forklift manufacturer had not provided approval for manlift use on the forklifts.  The lift did not have an anchor point and had no instructions for anchoring the lift to the forklift.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when new employees were not evaluated, certified, trained to drive forklifts at the site.  Forklifts were used to move hay bales, move mats and wattles, and to load trucks at the facility.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when the forklifts in use on first and second shifts were not taken out of service when deficiencies such as, but not limited to, leaking transmission and broken horns were found.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-05-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3500.00 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 October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to amputation, crush, and struck-by hazards when the following equipment was not guarded:  a.     Exit of the 16-1 machine has no guard to prevent employee access to the mat as it is rolled up  b.     Exit of the 16-2 machine has no guard to prevent employee access to the mat as it is rolled up  c.     Exit of the 8-foot machine has no guard to prevent employee access to the mat as it is rolled up  d.     Sides of the 8-foot machine have no guard to prevent employee access as the product is processed  e.     Homemade bale buster has no guards to prevent employee access to the rotating bale busting bars

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 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):    On or about October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to amputation, crush, and struck-by hazards when the following equipment was not guarded:  a.     Fan belt drive in the wattle area (2x)

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2975.00 · Current $1923.00 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 October 9, 2014, employees were exposed to amputation, crush, and struck-by hazards when the following equipment was not guarded:  a.     Chain drive on the yellow hopper near the 8-foot machine was missing a guard.

Issued

2015-04-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-05-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): Each recordable injury or illnesses was not entered on the OSHA 300 log and/or incident report (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:    On or about October 9, 2014, the employer does not record injuries or illnesses on the OSHA log until the end of each calendar year.