OSHA Inspection: PHYTOGENX, INC

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $5,000

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:    a) Warehouse areas - Sufficient safe clearances did not exist in some floor level storage rack slots where employees operated Raymond standup rider forklifts in that the operator compartment and overhead guard of this forklift had heights above the floor of 50 inches and 88 inches respectively while the horizontal rack beams in racking "D"  for instance had a height above the floor of 58 inches. This would allow the horizontal rack beam at some storage locations to enter the operator compartment of the Raymond standup style forklift, pinning the operator between the horizontal rack beam and the frame of the forklift, on or about December 10, 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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $5,000

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: Note: Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard:    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - Employees working on the batching platform opened a swinging access gate multiple times a day and were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 6 feet from the platform to the ground below, on or about December 10, 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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), was dispensed into containers unless the nozzle and container were not electrically interconnected:    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - Employees transferred 70% isopropyl alcohol  flammable liquids from 55 gallon drums to safety cans using a plastic siphon pump. The safety can was not bonded to the drum,  thereby exposing employees to fire hazards or explosions on or about December 10, 2015.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $5,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - The employer did not provide training to employees on the general principles, use and hazards involved with the use of fire extinguishers in the event of an incipient stage of a fire, thereby, exposing employees to burns on or about December 10, 2015.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd -  The employer did not provide training to designated employees on the general principles, use and hazards involved with the use of fire fighting equipment in the event of a fire, thereby, exposing employees to burns on or about December 10, 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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):     a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - The employer has not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program for chemicals including but not limited to: 96% ethyl alcohol or 70% isopropyl alcohol, that describes specific exposure limits, flammability, specific target organ effects, carcinogen warning and/or physical hazards. This violation occurred on or about December 10, 2015 and at times prior thereto, when employees in the facility were required to handle hazardous chemicals before a written hazard communication program had been developed and implemented.      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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

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:    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - Employees were not provided SDS training, categories of hazards such as flammability, carcinogenicity, appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, proper personal protective equipment and other physical or health hazards regarding chemicals including but not limited to: 70% Isopropyl alcohol, 96% ethyl alcohol (SDA 40B), 99% Isopropyl alcohol during batching, transferring, processing, storing and shipping operations on or about December 10, 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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $63,000 · Current $36,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)(2): More than 120 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable or combustible liquids in containers were located outside of inside storage room(s) or storage cabinet(s):    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - Approximately 300 gallons of 70% Isopropyl alcohol was stored in racking H2A,H3A and H4A creating a workplace fire hazard on or about December 10, 2015.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $63,000 · Current $36,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iii): Emergency drainage or other means were not provided to control spills in areas where flammable or combustible liquids were being transferred from one tank, or container to another:    a) Chemical Storage area - The employer did not provide equipment to capture a leak, spill or overflow of flammable liquids to ensure that the material would stay contained in the area the liquid was being transferred from or to direct approximately 300 gallons of flammable liquids such as 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to safe locations when transferring flammable liquids from various size containers to drums, jars, vials or other containers throughout multiple sections of the storage area thereby, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards on or about December 10, 2015.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(3)(iv)(a): Emergency drainage systems were not provided to direct flammable liquid leakage and fire protection water to a safe location. This may require curbs, scuppers, or special drainage systems to control the spread of fire:     a) Chemical Storage area - The employer did not ensure that emergency drainage systems were in place to direct approximately 500 gallons of flammable liquids such as 70% Isopropyl Alcohol or 96% Ethyl Alcohol (SDA40) to safe locations when transferring flammable liquids from various size containers to drums, jars, vials or other containers throughout multiple sections of the storage area thereby, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards on or about December 10, 2015.     b) Batching area - The employer did not ensure that emergency drainage systems were placed to direct approximately 600-900 Kg of flammable products to safe locations when storing or transferring  highly flammable liquids from drums to kettles or other containers containers, thereby exposing employees  to fire and explosion hazards on or about December 10, 2015    c) Production lines - The employer did not ensure that emergency drainage systems were placed to direct flammable liquids away from active work production thereby, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards on or about December 10, 2015.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Aug 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $63,000 · Current $36,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(7)(i)(a): All electrical wiring and equipment was not installed according to the requirements of Subpart S of this part.    a) 35 Thousand Oaks Blvd - 4 headed filling machine (AF5) was used to process highly flammable waterless cleanser without eliminating multiple sources of ignition hazards, thereby exposing employees to fire or explosion hazards  on or about December 10, 2015.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.