OSHA Inspection: ALPHAGARY CORPORATION

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

May 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

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):    Production Floor, AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts;  The employer did not perform a hazard analysis to determine the need for, or type of electrical personal protective equipment to be used by maintenance personnel performing electrical troubleshooting and repair, to protect them from shock and arc hazards.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Apr 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:  Production floor, AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts;  Employees performing electrical testing, repair, and maintenance on extrusion machines and motor controllers were not provided with the electrically rated gloves and arc rated clothing appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected for the work being performed.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

May 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.    Production floor, AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; The energy control procedures provided by the employer for the plastic chipping blades did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, and securing the machines to control hazardous energy.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

May 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:  AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; The employer did not conduct inspections of the energy control procedures at least annually to ensure the procedures and the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.147 were being followed.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Apr 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(i): When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means were not fully lowered, controls were not netralized, power was not shut off, and brakes set:    Back of building by exit to LP gas storage, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; A powered industrial truck was unattended with the load elevated over 6 feet in the air.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Apr 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks were being placed in service after the examination showed condition(s) adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle:  Nissan forklift #3, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; Nissan forklift #3 was in use although the amber warning beacon on the forklift was not functioning.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

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:    Warehouse area, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts:  The bottom two knockouts for breakers on the wall hung distribution panel in the warehouse area were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:    a.  bottom left - hole covered with vinyl electrical tape  b.  bottom right - hole partially covered with vinyl electrical tape.  The remaineder was open to employees.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)(3): 29 CFR 1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)(3): Each cord set, attachment cap, plug, and receptacle of cord sets, and any equipment connected by cord and plug, was not visually inspected before each day's use for external defects, such as deformed or missing pins or insulation damage, and for indications of possible internal damage:    Line 1, Feeder supply, AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; The flexible cord used to supply power to the feeder on line one had not been inspected prior to each day's use.  The cord had visible damage to the insulation and had not been taken out of service until replaced or repaired.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(D): Flexible cords were attached to building surfaces:  Line 1, AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; An extension cord used to power the plastic chipping machine on line 1 was attached to the building surface using plastic wire ties.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

May 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:    AlphaGary Corporation, 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster, Massachusetts; Employees performing electrical testing, maintenance, and repairs were not provided training on electrical safe work practices associated with their respective job assignments.