OSHA Inspection: BROWN DISTRIBUTING COMPANY LTD

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  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 employees were exposed to the recognized hazard of being struck by fragments of plastic pipe due to the pipes potential for explosive shattering when used to transport compressed air.  On or about 25 February 2015, a compressed air system installed within the Mechanic Shop was using PVC 1120 (polyvinyl chloride), SCH-40 PR 480 PSI and rated for drinking water operating at approximately 140 psi. The plastic service line was used for various machines and tools, and had multiple drops to quick connect outlets for air nozzle lines.  PVC pipe and fittings do not possess shatter resistant properties and the brittle PVC material can be broken or shattered by external forces and stress.  This pipe is designed for transmittal of liquids which do not possess the high amounts of stored energy present in compressed gases. This hazard has been recognized by the manufacturer of this PVC product, the Plastic Pipe Institute, the American National Standards Institute, and OSHA through an official Safety Hazard Information Bulletin dated May 20, 1988.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  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 employees were exposed to the recognized hazard of being struck by a rotating swing arm of a pallet wrapper while the interlock for the machine had cardboard jammed into the mechanism.  On or about 25 February 2015, two Lantech S300 Pallet Wrappers were being used within the warehouse area that had not been maintained to ensure the effectiveness of the safety devices for the machines, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by the rotating swing arm. Instance A) Pallet wrapper #1 was being used while the film assist was not operating correctly, resulting in employees having to initiate the swing arm while anchoring the film to the palletized material. Instance B) Pallet wrapper #3 was being used while the interlock system had cardboard jammed between the two plunger limit switches in an attempt to maintain the operation of the machine.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 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 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not guard machinery to prevent employees from accessing the point of operation for  the equipment, exposing employees to an amputation or caught in hazard. A Sears Craftsman pedestal drill press within the Mechanic Shop was not guarded at the point of operation while holes would be drilled into metal tubing. The tubing was held by hand, while the holes were drilled within approximately 2 inches from each end of the 4 foot tube. While drilling, the employee's hand would be approximately 18 inches from the drill bit.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.  On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, A Sears Craftsman Pedestal Drill Press used within the Mechanic Shop for drilling holes into metal tubes and brackets was not anchored to the floor, exposing the employees using the press to a struck by hazard from the press toppling over due to being imbalanced.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,530 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.  On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, employees working in the Mechanic Shop would use compressed air at approximately 140 psi to clean out air filters for vehicles, exposing the employees to the hazard of being struck by flying objects. Also, the compressed air delivery system is accomplished with the use of PVC piping, specifically PVC 1120, SCH-40 PR 480 PSI and rated for drinking water.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling.   On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, Relocatable Power Taps (RPTs) were connected in series to each other from a wall outlet within the administrative building in a manner not in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, exposing employees working in the building to a fire hazard.  Instance A) Within the Driver Check-in Room, two RPTs were connected in series with one connected directly to a wall outlet. Calculators were plugged into the RPTs at the time of the inspection.  Instance B) Within Ty Wall's office, two RPTs were connected in series with one connected directly to a wall outlet. One RPT had a radio plugged in at the time of the inspection, while the other had computer peripherals plugged in.  Instance C) Within Jimmy Mayne's office, two RPTs with one being an Uninterruptible Power Supply were connected in series with one connected directly into a wall outlet. A printer, fan and radio were plugged in at the time of the inspection.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): Electrical equipment had damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating.  On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, the employer allowed damaged electrical energized parts to be used within the facility, exposing employees to an electrical hazard of approximately 120 volts. Instance A) Within Vault #2, a drop line two-plug outlet box that was energized had damage in which the conduit came loose from the box exposing the wires inside. Instance B) Loading Docks 14 and 16 had double arm dock lights for trailers in which the plugs were separated from the expandable metal frame of the lights. In this condition, the sheathed wires were visible but in close contact with sharp edges of the metal frame. Instance C) Loading Dock 11 had a two-plug outlet rated for wet areas that had visible signs of electrical burns to both plugs. The bottom plug was partially melted on the energized receptacle.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910.   On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, electrical breaker panels were blocked with materials stored in front of them, restricting quick and ready access to the panels, exposing employees needing to access the breakers to a tripping hazard. Panels were at approximately 120 volts. Instance A) Within the Building B Main Electric Room, Panels 1HBE and 1LBE had a cardboard box of materials and a hand-held blower stored in front of each. The panels control various lights within the admin portion of the building. Instance B) Within the warehouse on the south side, Panel HCE2 had a pallet of items stored in front. The panel controls the south dock lights.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 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 provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  On or about 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, flexible cords and cables utilized within the workplace to provide power for various pieces of equipment were damaged, exposing employees to an electrical hazard of approximately 120 volts. Instance A) Power cord for a scissor lift near the Scrubber Room had strain relief damage at the plug with the internally sheathed wires visible. The cord was energized at the time of the inspection. Instance B) Lantech Pallet Wrapper #1 power cord had strain relief damage at the plug with the internally sheathed wires visible. The cord was energized at the time of the inspection. Instance C) S22 Electric Pallet Jack power cord had strain relief damage at the plug with the internally sheathed wires visible. The cord was energized at the time of the inspection.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 25 February 2015, and at times prior thereto, within the Building B Main Electric Room, Panel 1HBE was missing the electrical listing identifying the purpose for each breaker within the cabinet, exposing employees accessing the breakers to an electrical hazard of approximately 120 volts.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Abate by

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A Log of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent) was not completed in the detail as required by the regulation.  At the inspection site, for year 2014, the detail in Column F for the injury or illness, parts of body affected, and the object/substance that directly injured or made the person ill on the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses was not completed as required by the regulation. Cases 1 through 64 for calendar year 2014 had in most cases only the part of body affected for 34 entries, with 30 entries covering the part of body and injury. Missing on all of the entries was the object/substance that directly injured or made the person ill.

Issued

Apr 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(6): The annual summary was not posted between February 1 of the year following the year covered by the records and kept in place until April 30 at the work site.  At the inspection site, for year 2014, the OSHA 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses was not posted at the time of the inspection, 25 February 2015, for employees to view.