OSHA Inspection: THE PORTER AND CHESTER INSTITUTE, INC.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

Jul 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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):  Electrical and HVACR labs, Porter and Chester Institute, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts;  The employer did not perform a workplace assessment of the HVACR and electrical labs to determine the hazards present and which PPE to provide to employees to protect them from those hazards.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

Jul 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:  Electrical and HVACR labs, Porter and Chester Institute, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts;  The employer did not certify in writing that a workplace assessment of the HVACR and electrical labs had been performed to determine the hazards present and which PPE to provide to employees.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  Electrical and HVACR Labs, Porter and Chester, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts; Electrical and HVACR instructors were not provided electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  a.  electrically rated gloves to protect them from electrical shock hazards when performing voltage testing on circuits greater than 50 VAC. b.  uniform shirts provided by the employer for instructors are not arc rated and have a poly blend that could melt to employees or catch fire if exposed to an arc blast.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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:  Porter and Chester, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts;  The employer did not conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures at least annually by an authorized employee to ensure that the procedures met the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.147 and were being followed for locking out equipment regularly locked out in the HVACR and electrical labs.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:  Electrical and HVACR instructors, Porter and Chester Institute, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts;  The employer did not provide lockout training to employees from the Electrical and HVACR areas to ensure they had acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of energy control devices.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

Mar 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   Electrical and HVACR Labs, Porter and Chester, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts;  Junction boxes in the electrical and HVAC labs had missing knockouts that were not effectively closed exposing employees to electric shock hazards.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Electrical lab and HVAC lab, Porter and Chester, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts; Ladders were not stacked, blocked, interlocked, or chained to prevent sliding or falling.

Issued

Jan 8, 2015

Abate by

May 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E): Locks were placed without tags, without meeting the conditions in 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(1) through 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(3):  Electrical and HVACR Labs, Porter and Chester, 1984 Westover Road, Chicopee, Massachusetts; Locks were hung on equipment in the HVACR  and electrical labs without tags, without meeting the conditions required in exemption 1910.333(b)(2)(iii)(E)(2), which  states that tags are not required if locks are not left on equipment for more than one shift.