OSHA Inspection: GLOBAL ABRASIVE PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while performing work around damaged racks.  An employee uses an order picker to access racks.  Employees use the aisle to travel from the office to the warehouse and production areas.  Finished product and boxes were stored on the racks.  The following racks were damaged:  a.     Support leg at box storage area is bent and twisted.  The leg brace is bent.  b.     Support leg at end of aisle near mezzanine is bent and twisted.  The distortion starts at the first shelf attached to the leg.          AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS:  To follow American National Standard Institute (ANSI) MH16.1:2012, Specification for the Design, Testing, and Utilization of Industrial Storage Racks, Section 1.4.9, which states, "Upon any visible damage, the pertinent portions of the rack shall be immediately isolated by the user until the damaged portion is evaluated by a storage rack design professional.  Before allowing the rack to be placed back into service the design professional must certify that the rack system and/or the repaired components have been restored to at least their original design capacity.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 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 an employee was working from an order picker without fall protection.    On or about October 30, 2014, an employee was exposed to fall hazards while working from an order picker with a body belt and lanyard.  The length of the lanyard allowed the worker to be exposed to fall hazards.  The excessive length of the lanyard did not restrict travel by the operator past the platform edge.        AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS:  To provide the employee with an appropriately sized harness and lanyard.  Train the employee in the correct way to don and doff the harness.  Train the employee in how to inspect the harness and lanyard.  Require that the employee inspect the harness and lanyard each day that it is used. Insure that the harness and/or lanyard is replaced when damaged.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to fire hazards when exit signs were not lit in the office and production areas.  a.     The bulb had burned out in the exit sign at the front door.  b.     Exit signs in the production part of the building were not lit except when there was no power.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(b): Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer did not assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment.    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to hand injuries due to abrasive exposure and chemical (glue, isocyanate) exposure when the employer  a.     did not evaluate the gloves purchased by temporary employee to insure that they provided adequate protection when mixing glue or working with abrasive materials  b.     did not evaluate the gloves purchased by permanent employees to insure that they provided adequate protection with working with abrasive materials

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment:  On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to eye and skin injuries due to chemical (glue, isocyanate) exposure when the employer a.     did not train the temporary employees when and how to use PPE.  The employees did not know where to find chemical resistant gloves and did not know if face shield or goggles were required when mixing and applying the glue.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to eye injuries due to abrasive grit and chemical (glue, isocyanate) exposure when the employer    b.     did not require the use of safety goggles by permanent or temporary employees mixing glue or applying glue by paint brush

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to severe hand abrasion injuries due to abrasive grit and skin irritation due to chemical (glue, isocyanate) exposure when the employer    c.     did not require the use of gloves by temporary employees mixing glue or applying glue by paint brush to abrasive belt strips

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees who perform servicing and maintenance activities were exposed to struck-by and amputation hazards.  The employer did not ensure that lockout/tagout was performed by employees during the following tasks on the cut-to-length line:       a.  changing the blade angle (and gripper)        b.  changing out the blade

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,940

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by and amputation hazards when the lockout/tagout procedures had not been reviewed since they were created in May 2013.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(8): Lockout or tagout was not performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance:    On or about October 30, 2014, an employee changing the blades on the slitter was exposed to amputation hazards.  The employee did not maintain control of the energy isolating device.  The supervisor locked out the slitter, took the key, and was not otherwise involved in the servicing activity.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 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:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees were exposed to eye injury when the eye wash station:  a.  was not located at the site where water was added to forklift batteries containing a corrosive liquid  b.  was not capable of providing 15 minutes of continuous flush if needed due to exposure to battery acid or glue.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 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 moving parts:    On or about October 17, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when retrieving strips from the shelf below the inadequately guarded gripper as it travels along its track.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    On or about October 30, 2014:  a.  Employees operating the slitter at the cutting area to cut abrasive material into strips, were exposed to laceration and amputation hazards in that the blades were not guarded.  c.  Employees operating the cut-to-length line were exposed to laceration and amputation hazards while the unguarded blade was cutting the abrasive material.  d.  Employees operating the automated belt assembly machine were exposed to caught-by hazards where the pieces of abrasive material are joined to form a belt.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $38,500 · Current $23,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation:    On or about October 30, 2014, employees perform servicing and maintenance activities such as blade changes and adjustments to the gripper and blade angles on machines and equipment such as but not limited to the slitter and cut to length line.  All employees engaged in the servicing and maintenance activities were not adequately trained in the lockout/tagout procedures.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Affected employee(s) was not instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.    On or about October 30, 2014, temporary employees working on the cut-to-length line and belt line were not trained to recognize the hazards associated with the control of hazardous energy.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 30, 2014, employees hired after 2007 who drove powered industrial trucks had not been trained or evaluated to operate the powered industrial trucks used at the facility.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 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:  On or about October 30, 2014, employees who had prior experience driving powered industrial trucks had not been re-evaluated since 2007.

Issued

Apr 21, 2015

Abate by

May 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks were not examined before being placed in service:  On or about October 30, 2014, the employer did not insure that powered industrial trucks were inspected each shift on each day that the trucks were used. a.     Raymond order picker b.     Raymond standup forklift c.     Schaeff forklift modified for rolls of materials

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $700

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A Log of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA From 300 or equivalent), was not completed in detail as required by the regulation:    The employer had not recorded injuries for employees working for temporary agencies on the OSHA 300 log.  A temporary employee was injured on the cut-to-length line on October 17, 2014.  The employer did not record the injury on the log.

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(2): The employer did not fill out or correctly fill out an OSHA Form 301 or equivalent for each recordable injury or illness.    An OSHA Form 301 or equivalent for the following work-related injuries or illnesses was not filled out for the calendar year 2014:    A temporary employee received multiple abrasions and hematoma while working on the cut-to-length line on October 17, 2014.