OSHA Inspection: POLYMER TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES, INC.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3430.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:    29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.    a. At the facility, the lock out procedures for extrusion line 1 did not give specific steps for shutting down the machine.    b. At the facility, the lock out procedures for extrusion line 2 did not give specific steps for shutting down the machine.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:      29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(C): Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them.    a. At the facility, there procedures for lock out on extrusion line 1 did not include specific steps for placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or who was responsible for the lock out devices.     b. At the facility, there procedures for lock out on extrusion line 2 did not include specific steps for placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or who was responsible for the lock out devices.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:    29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D): Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.    a. At the facility, the procedures for lock out of extrusion line 1 did not include specific requirements for testing the extrusion line to determine if lockout devices were effective for the lock out process.    b. At the facility, the procedures for lock out of extrusion line 2 did not include specific requirements for testing the extrusion line to determine if lockout devices were effective for the lock out process.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:      29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A): A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure.    a. For the extrusion line 1, there was no statement to specify what the procedure was intended to be used for, such as but not limited to, a specific task to be performed or rendering the equipment to a zero state of energy.      b. For the extrusion line 2, there was no statement to specify what the procedure was intended to be used for, such as but not limited to, a specific task to be performed or rendering the equipment to a zero state of energy.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.    a. At the facility, periodic inspections of the energy control procedures were not conducted.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.    a. At the site, each employee that performed maintenance and repairs on equipment was not provided with adequate training.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.    a. At the facility, employees who did not perform maintenance and servicing on machines and equipment were not trained to understand the use of the energy control procedures.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.  a. At the site, the employer did not provide practical training and did not evaluate each employee before allowing them to operate forklifts on their own.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1470.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.    a. At the facility, forklift operators were not evaluated at least every three years.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.  a. In the production area, the Toyota forklift, model no. 42-6FG0U25, was operated without a working horn or working lights.  b. In the production area, the Clark forklift, model no. 25C, was operated without working lights.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1960.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.  a. In the production area on extrusion line 2, the screen changer was inadequately guarded when performing a screen change. On or about November 13, 2015 molten plastic sprayed from the screen changer as a cylinder was being moved out, resulting in 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the forearms of the operator.

Issued

2016-02-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-03-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3): Training. Employee training shall include at least:  29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv): The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.  a. At the facility, the employer did not provide training to employees to recognize and understand labeling and safety data sheets for the chemicals that were used.