OSHA Inspection: VENTURE CHEMICALS INC.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that all places of employment in building four were free from hazardous build up of combustible wood dust exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Oct 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean condition.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that all places of employment in building four were free from hazardous build up of combustible wood dust exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 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.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that fall protection was provided for employees when they were working in excess of four feet exposing employees to fall hazards in the following instances:    1) On platform in building six    2) On platform in carbon black area

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT).    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that all employees who were required to use a respirator were required to pass a fit test of any type exposing employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that all employees who were required to use a respirator were required to pass a fit test of any type prior to using a tight fitting respirator exposing employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $3,150 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 December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that facilities were available and in serviceable condition for employees to flush there eyes and body in the event of exposure to a corrosive material in the facility exposing employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 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 December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that material was stacked in a manner that would prevent the accidental falling of material exposing employees to struck-by hazards in warehouse one.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(c)(2)(vii): Power-operated industrial trucks designated as DY, EE, or EX are not used in atmospheres in which combustible dust is not normally in suspension in the air by normal operation of equipment or apparatus but where deposits or accumulations of  such dust could be ignited by arcs or sparks originating in the truck.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that powered industrial trucks designated as LP were not operated in areas containing combustible dust exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards in building four.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 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 December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that two augers were guarded in building two exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that horizontal shafting was guarded exposing employees to caught in hazards in the following instances:    1) Shaft on motor providing power to chain and sprocket located in building two    2) Shaft on motor providing power to chain and sprocket located in building six

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 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 December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that pulleys were guarded to prevent accidental contact exposing employees to caught-in hazards in the following instances:    1) On a mixing machine located in building four    2) Connected to a motor on mixing machine located in building four    3) On the end of an auger in the carbon black area

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 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).    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that belts were guarded to prevent accidental contact exposing employees to caught-in hazards in the following instances:    1) On a mixing machine located in building four    2) Connected to a motor on mixing machine located in building four

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that electrical equipment was effectively closed exposing employees to electrical hazards in the following instances:    1) Missing knockout on a electrical box in building four    2) Missing knockout on electrical junction box in building two    3) Missing knockout on electrical knife switch box in building two    4) Missing knockout on electrical junction box in building five on a mixer    5) Missing knockout on electrical knife switch box in building five    6) Missing knockout on electrical control box in building five    7) Missing knockout on electrical knife switch against wall in building six

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that electrical circuits were labeled in building six exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(c)(4): Snap switches mounted in boxes did not have faceplates installed so as to completely cover the opening and seat against the finished surface.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that a electrical snap switch located in building five was provided with covers exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(2): Panelboards were not mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and/or were not dead front.     On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that an electrical cabinet located in building six was not dead front exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that flexible cables were not used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure exposing employees to electrical hazards in the following instances:    1) Located in building six supplying electrical current to a light and scale    2) Located in building four supplying current to a light

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(2)(i): Receptacles, cord connectors and attachment plugs were not constructed so that they would not accept an attachment plug with a different voltage or current rating than that for which the device was intended.      On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that electrical outlets were provided with covers exposing employees to electrical hazards in the following instances:    1) On two gang electrical outlet in change building    2) On a single gang electrical outlet in change building

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c)(2)(i): Equipment in hazardous (classified) location(s) was not approved for the ignitable or combustible properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust, or fiber that was or could be present.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that electrical components used in the area were approved for use in areas that contained combustible dust exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 15 mg/m^3.     On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from respiratory hazards in excess of permissible exposure limit (PEL) while working in production areas of buildings 6 and 5.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that containers were labeled  exposing employees to chemical hazards in the following instances:    1) Five gallon containers in wax laboratory    2) Five hundred gallon propane tank in front of facility    3) One liter bottles in laboratory

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 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:    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that employees had received chemical training in the chemicals that they were working with at the facility exposing employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii).    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to ensure that all employees had been trained on the proper use of a respirator exposing employees to respiratory hazards at the facility.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(m)(1): Records of medical evaluations required by 29 CFR 1910.134 were not retained and made available in accordance with 1910.1020.     On or about December 18, 2014 the employer failed to maintain medical evaluations of employees who have had a medical evaluation and evaluations were not made available.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 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 December 18, 2014 the employer did not establish a written program for the control of hazardous energy at the facility exposing employees to electrical, caught-in, and caught-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 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.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not establish procedures for the control of hazardous energy exposing employees to electrical, caught-in, and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not provide training for employees in the control of hazardous energy exposing employees to electrical, caught-in, and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(f)(2): 29 CFR 1910.178(f)(2): The storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gas fuel shall be in accordance with NFPA Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (NFPA No. 58-1969), which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6. Section 7.4.4.1: An overfilling prevention device shall not be the primary means to determine when a cylinder is filled to the maximum allowable filling limits.    On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that liquid propane tanks were filled in an area that was safe from tampering and contact with vehicles exposing employees to chemical hazards near the propane filling area.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 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 December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that employees had received training in the operation of powered industrial trucks at the facility exposing employees to struck-by and other hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap.     On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that flexible cables were used in continuous length without splice or tap exposing employees to electrical hazards In the following instances:    1) On flexible cable providing electrical current to an overhead crane in building four in the presence of combustible dust    2) On flexible cable providing electrical current to a light and scale in building six

Issued

Jun 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $525 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws.     On or about December 18, 2014 the employer did not ensure that flexible electric cables were connected to electrical equipment so as to prevent accidental contact with electrical current exposing employees to electrical hazards in the following instances:    1) Lack of strain relief on electrical motor connected to mixer in building four    2) Lack of strain relief on electrical controls in carbon black area    3) Lack of strain relief on electrical control in building six