OSHA Inspection: NORTON INDUSTRIES, INC

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): Places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:    On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not keep work stations and surfaces such as walls, floors, rafters, and electrical panels clean from the build up of wood dust.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a) On June 23, 2015, the UV Machine Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 80.3% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 85 dbA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 313 minute sampling period.   Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 167 minutes not sampled.     b) On June 23, 2015, the CNC Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 88.5% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 85 dbA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 434 minute sampling period.   Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 46 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Oct 9, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and container being electrically interconnected:    On or about May 12, 2015, flammable and combustible liquids including, but not limited to; lacquer thinner, acetone, and two drums of waste product were transferred without grounding and bonding.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    On or about May 12, 2015, employees performing activities involving clean up of wood dust, and maintenance and repair of the cnc machine and their exhaust ventilation systems, were not provided with flame retardant clothing to protect against burns in the event of a fire and/or explosion related to wood dust.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 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:      On or about May 12, 2015, the workplace hazard assessment had not been put in writing and certified with the person conducting the evaluation and the dates the hazard assessment was completed.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 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 May 12, 2015, employees required to wear personal protective equipment have not been trained on its use. Employees are working with propane, machine oil, combustible wood dust, acetone, lacquer thinner, paint, and UV. All employees are required to wear safety glasses on the plant floor. The other PPE is worn on a as need basis based on the job task.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee, who wore prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involved eye hazards, used protection that incorporated the prescription in its design, or wore eye protection over the prescription glasses or protective lenses with side shields.       On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not ensure the employees working in the spray area wearing prescription lenses were using appropriate eye protection (safety glasses).

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):    On or about May 12, 2015, there were no warning signs in the vicinity of the dust collector to warn employees of the fire and explosion potential from the wood dust. There were no signs to prohibit the use of standard lift trucks in the area, warn against smoking, and to instruct employees on personal protective equipment requirements during potentially hazardous activities.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2): Portable fire extinguishers were not visually inspected at least monthly:    On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not have ABC fire extinguishers located throughout the manufacturing department visually inspected monthly.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:    On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not provide annual training for portable fire extinguishers when available for employee use.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 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 May 12, 2015, the employer did not guard the in-running nip points on the UV machine.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 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 May 12, 2015, the Spray Finisher in the manufacturing area used to spray wood parts was not properly guarded. Employees were exposed to a rotating horizontal shaft when cleaning around equipment and operating the spray finisher. The shafts were 6 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    On or about May 12, 2015, the company did not implement and maintain a written hazard communication program at the site. Employees are working with hazardous materials such as propane, machine oil, combustible wood dust, acetone, lacquer thinner, paint, and UV.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 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 May 12, 2015, the company did not train employees on the hazards associated with the chemicals they are working with such as propane, machine oil, combustible wood dust, acetone, lacquer thinner, paint, and UV.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Oct 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): In every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial, or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked in a conspicuous place in each space to which they related:    On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not load rate the overhead storage area in the manufacturing area above a hallway and work area containing files.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(i): Visible gauges or audible alarm or pressure activated devices were not installed to indicate or insure that the required air velocity is maintained:    On or about May 12, 2015, the employer did not maintain the visible gauge on the spray booth to indicate the required air velocity. It did not contain the indicating oil.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(iv): Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters were not protected with approved automatic sprinklers:    On or about May 12, 2015, the paint booth located in the spray area did not have a sprinkler system.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    On or about May 12, 2015, employees were required to wear respiratory protection while spray finishing. The company did not have a written respiratory protection program.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    On or about May 12, 2015, employees were required to wear respiratory protection while spray finishing and have not received a medical evaluation.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 a annual basis:     On or about May 12, 2015, employees required to use half-face tight-fitting respirators while spray finishing had not received a fit test.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):  The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):    On or about May 12, 2015, employees were required to wear respiratory protection while spray finishing. Employees have not received respiratory protection training in accordance with the standard.

Issued

Sep 2, 2015

Abate by

Nov 18, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:    On or about May 12, 2015 the employer did not provide employees with Appendix D of the respiratory standard when voluntarily using N-95 filtering face piece respirators while operating the CNC machine and exposed to wood dust.