OSHA Inspection: NEW ENGLAND PLASTICS CORPORATION

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $4,200

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  Location: Facility  Employees are exposed to noise levels above an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or a dose of 50 percent, and the employer had not developed and administered a Hearing Conservation Program that includes:  1) Annual Audiograms 2) Annual training 3) Periodic monitoring 4) Fit testing of hearing protection devices  Noise Measurements:  Drum Lining:  8-hr TWA 88.8 dBA (85.0% dose) Thermoforming: 8-hr TWA 90.9 dBA (111.9% dose) Grinding: 8-hr TWA 87.3 dBA (69.5% dose) Press: 8-hr TWA 90.7 dBA (110.5% dose)

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances 0010011012901310

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  Location: Worksite  Employees are exposed to particles and irritant vapors when heating and melting polyethylene products (Marlex HXM 50100 Polyethylene and Dow Polyethylyne 1321), and they were not wearing eye protection for the chemical vapors that were generated by the process.   Appropriate eye protection is safety glasses with eye shields or goggles.

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 001001101290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to hazardous condition.  Location: Facility  Employees are exposed to thermal burns when working with melted Marlex HXM 50100 Polyethylene and Dow Polyethylene 1321 pellets, and they were not wearing proper gloves.  Appropriate hand protection is thermal gloves

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances 00100020004001101290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:   Location: Extrusion and Thermoforming Areas  The employer has not conducted an evaluation of the respiratory hazards where polyethylene pellets are heated, and vapors, such as, but not limited to, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, and acrolein are generated by thermal decomposition.

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not being conducted at least once every three years:  Location: Facility  Employees were operating forklifts, and their performance had not been reevaluated every 3 years.

Issued

Feb 25, 2016

Abate by

Apr 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances 1290

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  Location: Worksite  A written hazard communication program had not been developed and implemented where polyethylene resin pellets were melted, which can generate toxic vapors, including:      1) Dow Polyethylene 1321: Aldehydes, alcohols, organic acids, and hydrocarbons     2) Marlex HXM 50100 Polyethylene:  Acetaldehyde, acetone, acetic acid, formic acid, formaldehyde, acrolein  ABATEMENT NOTE:  A written program shall include description of how the criteria for the following will be met:      1.  Labeling and other forms of warning;     2.  Material Safety Data Sheets;     3.  Employee information and training  Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non-routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazards, including a description of the labeling system used in the facility and of the availability of material safety data sheets, must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.