OSHA Inspection: QUALITY CHRISTMAS TREE, LTD

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:   The employer does not furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from the recognized hazards of being exposed to communicable diseases which are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:        At the facility where employees were exposed to contact and ingestion hazards when using the restrooms without toilet paper available.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(ii): Lavatories were not provided with hot and cold, or tepid running water:   At the facility where employees were exposed to contact and ingestion hazards when using the restrooms without hot or tepid water.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iii): Lavatories were not provided with hand soap or similar cleansing agent:   At the facility where employees were exposed to contact and ingestion hazards when using the restrooms without the employer providing hand soap or an equivalent hand sanitizer.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iv): Lavatories were not provided with individual hand towels or sections thereof, of cloth or paper, warm air blowers or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling:   At the facility where employees were exposed to contact and ingestion hazards when using the women's restrooms without hand towels, warm air blower or other means for drying hands.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer does not furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from the recognized hazards of falls from elevated work platforms which are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:        At the facility where employees were exposed to fall hazards when using bins and wooden pallets elevated by a Komatsu 25 forklift to dump trash into a dumpster.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 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:      At the facility where employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when using a chain saw to cut Christmas trees without leg protection.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):   At the facility where employees were exposed to struck-by hazards when using a chain saw to cut Christmas trees without leg protection.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:      At the facility, employees were exposed to struck-by and contact hazards when performing the following tasks without the use of eye and/or face protection:      1)  Pouring Clorox to clean bathrooms (no safety glasses),  2)  Using a nail gun to make tree stands (no safety glasses), and  3)  Using a chain saw to cut Christmas trees (no safety glasses and no face shield).

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.      At the facility, employees were exposed to contact hazards when performing the following tasks without the use of hand protection:      1)  Pouring Clorox to clean bathrooms (no gloves),  2)  Changing propane tank on a forklift (no gloves), and  3)  Using a chain saw to cut Christmas trees (no gloves).

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii):  The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a power industrial truck:      At the facility where laborers were exposed to crushed-by hazards when operating a Komatsu 25 forklift for taking trash to the dumpster and moving product without forklift training.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:      Located in the greenhouse where employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards when a breaker panel with breakers powering greenhouse and shade house lights was not labeled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(f)(1)(viii): Circuit breakers used as switches in 120-volt and 277-volt, fluorescent lighting circuits were not listed and marked "SWD":        Located in the greenhouse where employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards when using breakers as an on-off switch for the greenhouse and shade house lights.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:      At the facility:      a)  Located adjacent to the cash registers, employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards from an electrical box that was not equipped with a cover.      b)  Located in the shade house, employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards from an electrical box that was not equipped with a cover.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(c)(4): Snap switches mounted in boxes did not have faceplates installed so as to completely cover the opening and seat against the finished surface:      At the facility where employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards from a broken faceplate that exposed portions of a light switch.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(e)(1): Cabinets, cutout boxes, fittings, boxes, and panelboard enclosures in damp or wet locations were not installed to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the enclosures:      Located in the shade house, employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards from an electrical box that was not equipped with a cover.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(e)(2): Switches, circuit breakers and switchboards installed in wet locations were not enclosed in weatherproof enclosures:   Located in the greenhouse where employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards when using breakers for the greenhouse and shade house lights without a weatherproof enclosure.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(2)(vi): A receptacle installed in a wet location where the product intended to be plugged into it was not to be attended while in use (for example, sprinkler system controllers, landscape lighting, and holiday lights) did not have an enclosure that was weatherproof with the attachment plug cap inserted or removed:      Located in the shade house, employees were exposed to electrical and fire hazards from a receptacle used for the automatic sprinkler system that was not equipped with an enclosure that was weatherproof.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:        At the facility where employees were exposed to contact hazards when using a plastic bottle containing Mobil Hydraulic 10W oil that was not labeled with the identity of its contents.       Or, In the Alternative:    29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    At the facility where employees were exposed to contact hazards when using a plastic bottle containing Mobil Hydraulic 10W oil that was not labeled with hazard warnings.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $15,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:      During November and December 2015, at the facility where employees were exposed to contact hazards when using corrosive chemicals such as, but not limited to, Clorox bleach for cleaning bathrooms without the eye wash being readily assessable.      The Quality Christmas Tree Ltd was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.151(c) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1042773, citation number 1, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on June 17, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 14800 I-45, Spring, TX 77386.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $15,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):      During October through December 2015, at the facility where employees were exposed to contact, fire, and ingestion hazards when working with chemicals such as, but not limited to, Clorox, propane, lubricants, fertilizers, and insecticides when performing tasks to maintain the store including the plants, flowers and trees without developing and implementing a hazard communication program.    The Quality Christmas Tree Ltd was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1200(e)(1) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1042773, citation number 1, item number 3a, and was affirmed as a final order on June 30, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 14800 I-45, Spring, TX 77386.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:   During November and December 2015, at the facility where employees were exposed to contact hazards when using Mobil Hydraulic 10W oil without maintain the safety data sheet.   The Quality Christmas Tree Ltd was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1200(g)(1) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1042773, citation number 1, item number 3(b), and was affirmed as a final order on June 17, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 14800 I-45, Spring, TX 77386.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

Apr 11, 2016

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:    During October through December 2015, at the facility where employees were exposed to contact, fire, and ingestion hazards when working with chemicals such as, but not limited to, Clorox, propane, lubricants, fertilizers, and insecticides without providing training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.   The Quality Christmas Tree Ltd was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1200(h)(1) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1042773, citation number 2, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on June 30, 2015 with respect to a workplace located at 14800 I-45, Spring, TX 77386.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye as a result of a work-related incident to OSHA within twenty-four (24) hours.      At the facility where a work related in-patient hospitalization of an employee that fell from a bin elevated by a forklift was not reported to OSHA within 24 hours.