OSHA Inspection: FRANCOIS & COMPANY, LLC

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:    a)  Finishing Area - Employees in the finishing area voluntarily used a tight fitting 3M brand half-face respirator and the employer did not ensure the employee was medically able to do so.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(1): Circular handfed ripsaw(s) were not guarded by an automatically adjusting hood which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and above the material being cut:    a) Wood Working Area - The handfed table saw located at the front of the woodworking area of the shop had no hood guard exposing employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Apr 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(2): Hand-fed circular ripsaw(s) were not furnished with a spreader to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator:    a) Wood Working Area - The handfed table saw located at the front of the woodworking area of the shop had no spreader to prevent the material from squeezing the blade or being thrown back on the operator.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(3): Hand-fed ripsaw(s) did not have non kickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator:  a) Wood Working Area - The handfed table saw located at the front of the woodworking area of the shop had no kick-back dogs to prevent the material from being thrown back on the operator.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(g)(1): Swing cutoff saw(s) were not provided with an automatically adjusting hood that completely enclosed the upper half of the saw, the arbor end, and the point of operation at all positions of the saw:    a) Near Loading Dock - The cut-off saw, used to construct custom pallets, had its blade guard locked in an upright position, exposing employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    a) Finishing Area - The compressed air used for cleaning debris off products during the finishing stage was not reduced to 30 psi at the nozzle exit.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.  a)  The Loading Area - Employees were required to operate a forklift and the employer did not provide training to the employees on the forklift's safe operation.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was connected that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  a)  The Finishing Room - Two flexible cords located in the finishing room were used to power portable sanders.  The strain relief was broken,  allowing any pulling on the cord to be transmitted directly to the conductors and joints.

Issued

Jan 9, 2015

Abate by

Feb 27, 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)  The Finishing Area - Employees are required to sand and buff materials such as, but not limited to, scagliola and pewter and have not been trained on the hazards of these materials or how to control their exposure to these chemical hazards.