OSHA Inspection: AXEL AMERICAS, LLC

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Where wet processes were used, drainage was not maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places were not provided when practicable.  The employer is failing to protect employees from slip, trip, and fall hazards. This was documented on December 18, 2015 at Axel Americas LLC North Kansas City, Missouri location within the Kettle Room. Employees are exposed to slips, trips, and falls along with near misses in the Kettle Room and Lower Production from oil leaking out of overhead pipes and kettles.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2): Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening:  The employer is failing to protect employees from fall hazards. This was most recently documented in the Kettle Room at Axel Americas LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri facility. The employer failed to ensure employees were protected from fall hazards while transiting on the catwalk when no swinging gate or offset so an employee cannot walk directly into the opening.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8): Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk were not guarded:  The employer is failing to protect employees from injury in that floor holes are not repaired or guarded. This was documented at Axel Americas LLC North Kansas City, Missouri location in the warehouse. Floor holes were observed both to the left and to the right of the personnel walkways in the first floor warehouse.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet (1.22 m) or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:  The employer is failing to protect employees from fall hazards when requiring employees to check the oil levels on top of the oil tanks. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC in the North Kansas City, Missouri location in the Kettle Room. Employees are walking off of the catwalk onto the tops of the tanks to determine the oil level without the use of fall protection or guard railing; the fall distance is approximately 20 feet. Fall protection was not provided in the following three locations:    (a) The complete lack of guardrail around the tops of the tanks; the tank tops are 10 to 12 feet in diameter. (b) The lack of a standard guardrail on the catwalk (c) The lack of a midrail on the catwalk

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(i): Inside storage rooms shall be constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction shall comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system shall be designed and installed in an acceptable manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid-tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows shall be protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, for Class E or F openings. Wood at least 1 inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay, and similar installations.  The employer is failing to protect employees from ignitable and combustible hazards when storing hazardous chemicals in an unsafe location. This was recently documented at Axel Americas LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri location in a store room. The employer is storing hazardous chemicals in 55 drums; such as but not limited to acetic acid.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,900

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(3): Vertical or inclined shafting seven -7 feet or less from floor or working platform was not enclosed with stationary casing(s)    The employer is failing to protect employees from caught-in hazards when machines were not guarded. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri location. Employees working on the Kettle and Lower Production floors were exposed to caught-in hazards when rotating shafts were not guarded; the hazards are located in the following areas:      (a) The Kettle room, Cone Drive machine located at Kettle #2.  (b) The Lower Production at Kettle #22.  (c) The Lower Production area next to Kettle #22.  (d) The Lower Production at the bottom of kettle #19.  (e) The Lower Production floor at the bottom of kettle #15.  (f) The Lower Production floor next to the conveyor system at Kettle #24.  (g) The Lower Production floor below kettle #2.  (h) The Lower Production floor at the bottom of kettle #10.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    The employer is failing to protect employees from caught-in hazards when machines were not guarded. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri location. Employees working on the Lower Production floors were exposed to ingoing nip point hazards when the pulleys were not guarded; the hazards are located in the following areas:    (a)The Lower Production floor between kettles 15 and 19  (b) The Lower Production floor just in front of the furnace room entrance

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:    The employer is failing to protect employees from caught-in hazards when machines were not guarded. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC, North Kansas City, Missouri location. Employees working on the Lower Production floors were exposed to ingoing nip point hazards when the belts were not guarded; the hazards are located in the following areas:      (a)The Lower Production floor between kettles 15 and 19  (b) The Lower Production floor just in front of the furnace room entrance

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:    The employer is failing to protect employees from electrical hazards. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC North Kansas City, Missouri location. The hazards include electrical shock and electrocution when Disconnect and Panel boxes are blocked; the hazards are in the following areas:       (a) Upper level of the Plant in Raw Materials area disconnect boxes blocked by product   (b) Main level of the warehouse, disconnect and panel boxes blocked by a metal conveyor

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:    The employer is failing to protect employees from electrical hazards. This was most recently observed at Axel Americans LLC North Kansas City, Missouri location, where a knockout was missing on an energized 110 vac junction box located at the bottom of Kettle #2 just above an electrical box.

Issued

Jun 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:    The employer is failing to protect employees from electrical hazards when using portable fans. This was most recently documented at Axel Americas LLC North Kansas City, Missouri location, in the Lower Kettle Room.  Employees had a portable fan plugged into an extension cord into an outlet box. The fans are used throughout the year to regulate the temperature in the kettle room. The extension cord was being used as a substitute for fixed wiring on 110 vac energized outlet box.