OSHA Inspection: PET FACTORY, INC.

Issued

2015-12-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3600.00 · Current $3600.00

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:  a) Pet Factory, Inc., Mundelein, IL, did not develop and implement an effective written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that describes at least the following:  1) Labeling requirements for the containers/packages of the hazardous chemicals, including in-plant secondary containers; 2) Maintenance and availability of safety data sheets (SDSs);   3) Employee training on the hazardous chemicals they use or are exposed to in their workplace;  4) A complete and accurate list or inventory of the hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace that can be cross-referenced with the required safety data sheets (SDSs);   5) Methods to inform and train employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, and   6) Methods to inform other employers/contractors of SDS availability, labeling system and any other precautionary measures to protect employees.    Employees work with or were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, sodium carbonate (soda ash), sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide, which are used in the rawhide manufacturing and sanitation processes.  Employees were also exposed to sulfuric acid, which was used to unclog a drain on July 11, 2015, and resulted in an incident where several employees were taken to the hospital.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2015-12-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:  a) Pet Factory, Inc., Mundelein, IL, did not provide effective information and training on the hazards of new and additional chemicals introduced into the workplace or chemicals not routinely or frequently used, such as sulfuric acid, which was used to unclog the drain on July 11, 2015, and resulted in an incident where several employees were taken to the hospital.  The hazard communication training must include how the following elements specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200 must be met:     1) The requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard;  2) The hazardous chemicals in their work area, and the operations in the work area where hazardous chemicals are present; 3) The physical (i.e., flammable, combustible, oxidizing, reactive, etc.) and health hazards of the chemicals  in the work area, and the measures employees can use to protect themselves, such as work practices, housekeeping, personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used, and emergency procedures;  4) The methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area;  5) The labeling system and the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and how the workers can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information;  6) The location and availability of the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).