OSHA Inspection: GERMAN PELLETS OF TEXAS

Issued

Sep 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,850 · Current $1,925 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:        At the tunnel; the employer did not provide guard railing or similar systems for an approximate height of 10 feet, exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,700 · Current $3,850 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:        At the facility; the employer did not utilize the energy control procedure when performing maintenance on the Tramco counterweights, unknown serial or model number, exposing employees to caught in hazards.     GERMAN PELLETS, LLC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR THE SAME VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i) CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 950187, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2, ISSUED ON APRIL 21, 2014, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT THE HOUSTON AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR TERMINAL, PORT ARTHUR, TX, 77641.  THIS CITATION BECAME FINAL ORDER ON MAY 15, 2014.

Issued

Sep 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,700 · Current $3,850 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:        At the facility; the employees lube and grease the unguarded Tramco counterweight's bearings, unknown serial or model number, exposing employees to caught in between.     GERMAN PELLETS, LLC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A SIMILAR VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii) CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 950187, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 3, ISSUED ON APRIL 21, 2014, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT THE HOUSTON AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR TERMINAL, PORT ARTHUR, TX, 77641.  THIS CITATION BECAME FINAL ORDER ON MAY 15, 2014.

Issued

Sep 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $770 · Current $385 Reduced

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:        At the facility, the employer requires employees to wear respirator without any medical evaluations.

Issued

Sep 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $770 · Current $385 Reduced

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:        At the facility, the employer requires employees to wear respirators without fit testing prior to initial use of the respirators.