OSHA Inspection: GOLD RUSH, INC.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Feb 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 a struck-by hazard from flying polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe fragments:    (a) Gold Rush, Inc., 920 Stone Hill Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - The employer used polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping to transport compressed air to pneumatically powered equipment and machinery, exposing employees to a struck-by hazard from flying PVC pipe fragments associated with such use of PVC piping in above ground installations.  According to the Plastic Pipe Institute and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association, PVC piping does not possess shatter resistant properties, and failure of the piping presents a serious hazard to employees from resultant flying shards or pipe fragments which become rapidly propelled by the released energy of a suddenly decompressing gas, on or about August 3, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Feb 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Machine guarding was not provided to protect operators and other employees from hazards created by lack of guarding and falling/dropping loads:    (a) Base Assembly - When assembling the base of a trailer, employees worked under the fully raised industrial work platform.  This work platform did not have a safety locking device nor did employees block, crib, or otherwise secure the platform from falling/dropping in the event of a failure, for example of the hydraulics or cables used to raise and lower the platform, exposing employees to the hazard of getting struck-by the falling/dropping work platform, on or about August 3, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point of operation guards were not designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of their body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:    (a) Material Storage Area - The Black and Decker radial arm saw, model 56673567, serial number 626439, used to cut metal, did not have a guard on the right side of the lower exposed portion of the blade, exposing employees to getting struck-by the rotating saw blade, on or about August 3, 2015.    (b) Finish Fab Area - The DeWalt radial arm saw (no model or serial number discernible) used to cut metal, did not have a guard on either side of the lower exposed portion of the blade, exposing employees to getting struck-by the rotating saw blade, on or about August 3, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(a): The conductors and/or equipment required or permitted by this subpart were not approved:    (a) Base Assembly - Employees used a homemade three-way extension cord, which was not approved, for powering portable equipment, including, but not limited to a floor fan.  The homemade three-way extension cord consisted of three cords, each with a socket wired onto one end and then all three cords wired into the same single plug connector at the other end, exposing employees to injurious contact with electrical current, on or about August 3, 2015    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:     (a) Finish Fab Area - The flexible cord that connected the controller for the wire feeder to the ESAB MIG welder 352 CV, item number 36377, had no strain relief in that the cord had frayed where it plugged into the welder, exposing employees to contact with injurious electrical current, on or about July 27, 2015.    (b) Finish Fab Area - The flexible cord on the work lead on the ESAB MIG welder 352 CV, item number 36377, had no strain relief in that the cord had frayed where it plugged into the welder, exposing employees to contact with injurious electrical current, on or about July 27, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): When there was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item was not removed from service until the repairs and tests necessary to render the electrical equipment safe had been made:     (a) Base Assembly - A yellow extension cord had damage consisting of cuts through the outer jacket in two areas.  This cord remained in use powering loads, including, but not limited to a floor fan and a radio, exposing employees to injurious contact with electrical current, on or about August 3, 2015     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $780 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:    (a) Gold Rush, Inc., 920 Stone Hill Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - Employees had exposure to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, compressed gases used for welding and welding fumes generated during MIG and TIG welding.  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a hazard communication program, on or about August 3, 2015.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 8, 2015

Abate by

Jan 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer and the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  (a) Gold Rush, Inc., 920 Stone Hill Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - Employees had exposure to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, compressed gases used for welding and welding fumes generated during MIG and TIG welding, and the employer did not provide employees with training on the revised hazard communication standard (HCS 2012) label elements and the new format and type of information on each section of the safety data sheets (SDSs) to ensure that when employees see HCS 2012 compliant labels and SDSs in their workplace, employees understand how to use the labels and SDSs and access the information effectively, on or about August 3, 2015.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.