OSHA Inspection: RWS MANUFACTURING INC.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Abate by

Jul 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The employer does not furnish employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to the hazard of potential fire and explosion hazards of Class II explosive wood dust:        Shavings room and bagging room, on or prior to 1/13/16:      (a)   Conveyors and related equipment in the shavings and bagging rooms were not designed, installed, and operated to avoid excessive heat buildup from hot bearings. (NFPA 664  2012, section 8.2.3, Mechanical Conveying Systems)  On or about 12/22/15, a significant fire occurred in the shavings room when a hot bearing on the head pulley of a conveyor ignited accumulated wood dust and surrounding wood enclosure(s) installed for dust control.      (b)   An inspection, testing, and maintenance program was not established to ensure that fire and explosion protection systems are inspected and maintained in operable condition (NFPA 664  2012, Section 10.2 Inspection and Maintenance).  On 1/13/16, the Flamex spark and ember detection system associated with the rotary kiln was inoperable due to faulty wiring.  The Flamex had been inoperable for a period of several weeks prior to the date of the inspection.          On 2/23/16, the Flamex had been inoperable for about a week due to damage from a failed sprinkler escutcheon.      (c)   A written impairment procedure was not followed when fire protection or suppression systems or controls, including but not limited to the Flamex system and sprinkler/standpipe system, were inoperable (NFPA 664  2012, section 10.9 Impairments of Fire Protection and Explosion Prevention Systems.).  On 1/13/16 and 2/23/16, a written impairment procedure was not being followed while the Flamex system was inoperable.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,850 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4): Portable fire extinguishers were not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition:    (a) Bagging room and Shavings room:  On or prior to 1/13/16, seven 20lb portable fire extinguishers were in need of charging; units were located in the "To be Refilled" location.   Units missing from mounting locations in the plant had not been replaced.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,850 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:    (a) Shavings room and bagging room/production area:  On or prior to 1/13/16, inspection noted four (4) portable fire extinguishers in the facility had not been subjected to an annual maintenance check; maintenance tags indicated last inspection was due on or about November 2015.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Abate by

Jul 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $26,950 · Current $25,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms are not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition:    (a)  The shavings room continues to have a hazardous accumulation of wood dust on surfaces including, but not limited to: structural supports, pipes, fixtures, ductwork, and equipment including conveyors.  This violation was most recently observed on January 13, 2016.  On or about 12/22/15, a significant fire occurred in the shavings room when a hot bearing on the head pulley of a conveyor ignited accumulated wood dust and surrounding wood enclosure(s) installed for dust control.    (b)  The bagging room continues to have a hazardous accumulation of wood dust on surfaces including, but not limited to:  structural supports, pipes, fixtures, ductwork, and equipment.  This violation was most recently observed on January 13, 2016.      RWS Manufacturing, Inc.  was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.22(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 757902, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 2/27/15, with respect to a workplace located at 22 Ferguson Lane, Queensbury, NY.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Abate by

Jul 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $10,780 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition:    (a) Bagging room -- On or prior to 2/23/16, the employer continues to allow excessive amounts of wood shavings to accumulate on floors, creating a fire hazard and slip/trip hazard.   The established housekeeping program does not adequately control accumulation of wood shavings.    RWS Manufacturing, Inc.  was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.22(a)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 757902, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 2/27/15, with respect to a workplace located at 22 Ferguson Lane, Queensbury, NY.

Issued

Jul 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:  (a)    Shavings room, south exit:  On or about 1/13/16, exit sign and emergency light fixture was damaged and inoperable.