OSHA Inspection: HUMPHREY CHARCOAL CORPORATION

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Jan 26, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,673 · Current $1,337 Reduced

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.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards from dust collectors that were not equipped with devices and systems to prevent the propagation of explosions and associated flame fronts from the dust collector through the associated dust collection system duct work.  Duct collection systems including, but not limited to, the Lump Charcoal dust collector was not equipped with approved devices to prevent the propagation of a dust explosion and associated flame fronts throughout the dust collection system and the associated duct work.  The dust collector collected dusts from material including, but not limited to, lump charcoal dust.       b.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards from dust collectors that were not equipped with devices and systems to prevent the propagation of explosions and associated flame fronts from the dust collector through the associated dust collection system duct work.  Dust collection systems including, but not limited to, the Charcoal Briquette dust collector was not equipped with approved devices to prevent the propagation of a dust explosion and associated flame fronts throughout the dust collection system and the associated duct work.  The dust collector collected dusts from material including, but not limited to, charcoal briquette dust.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Oct 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,673 · Current $1,337 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition:       a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards from the explosive dust that had accumulated in the briquette and lump charcoal bagging areas.  Dust accumulations were present in upper areas including, but not limited to, rafters, joists, ducting associated with the briquette bagger, wall surfaces, ledges, and elevated equipment.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Oct 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean condition:       a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:   Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards from the explosive dust that had accumulated on the floors throughout the facility.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Oct 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,673 · Current $1,337 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):       a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting servicing and maintenance on equipment/machinery including, but not limited to, Lump room Shaker/machine,  the mixing pan, and the Briquette machine. The lockout procedures did not provide sequential steps to bring the machinery to a zero energy state.  In addition, the lockout procedures were missing information including, but not limited to, the intended use of the procedure; sources and magnitudes of energy; notification of affected employees prior to and following the lockout of equipment; specific procedural steps for shutting down, and isolating hazardous energy; specific procedural steps for placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; specific requirements for testing equipment determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures; and steps to release the lockout.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Nov 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:           a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting servicing and maintenance on equipment/machinery including, but not limited to, Lump charcoal room bagging machine,  the mixing pan, and the Briquette bagging machine.  Periodic lockout/tag out inspections were not conducted.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Sep 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,742 · Current $1,871 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to crystalline silica quartz in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 10 mg/m3/(%SiO2 +2) listed in Table Z-3:       a.)    Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 25th, 2016, and times prior thereto: a loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.1 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 4.3 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.3 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 3.226 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from a sample collected over a 217-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 263 minutes not sampled.               b.)   Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about June 14th , 2016, and times prior thereto: a loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.90 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 3.875 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.5 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 2.564 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from two samples collected over a 465-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Oct 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):         a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 25th, 2016, and times prior thereto: A loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.1 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 4.3 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.3 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 3.226 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from a sample collected over a 217-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 263 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not determine and implement administrative and engineering controls to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).               a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about June 14th , 2016, and times prior thereto: A loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.90 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 3.875 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.5 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 2.564 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from two samples collected over a 465-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not determine and implement administrative and engineering controls to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2): A respirator was not provided by the employer to each employee when such equipment was necessary to protect the health of the employee:    a.)    Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 25th, 2016, and times prior thereto: a loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.1 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 4.3 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.3 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 3.226 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from a sample collected over a 217-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 263 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not require the loader operator to wear respiratory protection.           b.)    Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about June 14th, 2016, and times prior thereto: A loader operator performing work operations including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of anthracite coal, lime, etc. was exposed to Respirable dust containing 1.90 % crystalline silica (quartz) at a Time-Weighted Average level of 3.875 mg/m³, which is approximately 1.5 times the Permissible Exposure Limit for crystalline silica of 2.564 mg/m³. The exposure level is derived from two samples collected over a 465-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not require the loader operator to wear respiratory protection.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Sep 26, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,673 · Current $1,337 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:       a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees worked with and around silica, crystalline quartz during operations including, but not limited to, loading/unloading anthracite, lime, and charcoal fines.  Employees were not aware of the health hazards associated with the crystalline silica (Quartz).

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,483 · Current $3,742 Reduced

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:         a.)Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees periodically performed work operations with and around materials including, but not limited to,  anthracite coal, charcoal fines, and lime during charcoal briquette production/bagging and lump charcoal bagging operations.  The employer did not evaluate the potential respiratory hazards, associated with these work operations.    The Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 916185, citation number 2, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on January 6th, 2014,with respect to a workplace located at 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,276 · Current $2,138 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:         a.)Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Maintenance shop area, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees utilized a Dayton pedestal grinder (#60064R-H76-2) with the work rest approximately 5/8" from the grinding wheel/stone.  The work rest had not been adjusted as the wheel was worn.      The Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 916884, citation number 1, item number 4a and was affirmed as a final order on January 6th, 2014,with respect to a workplace located at 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,276 · Current $2,138 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Guard for abrasive wheel machine where the operator stands in front of the machine was not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member could be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel:       a.)Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Maintenance shop area, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees utilized a Dayton pedestal grinder (#60064R-H76-2)  for grinding operations onsite.  The Dayton pedestal grinder was not equipped with a tongue guard.       The Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 916884, citation number 1, item number 4b and was affirmed as a final order on January 6th, 2014,with respect to a workplace located at 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    a.)    Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:  Employees voluntarily used disposable dust masks during work operations including, but not limited to, charcoal briquette bagging operations.  Employees that used the dust masks were not provided the information in Appendix D to this section.

Issued

Aug 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(4): The employer did not make the written hazard communication program available upon request to the Assistant Secretary and the Director  in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020(e):    a.) Humphrey Charcoal Corporation, 13760 Knox Dale Rd, Brookville, PA 15825, Production areas, On or about May 5th, 2016, and times prior thereto:   Employees worked with and around hazardous materials including, but not limited to, crystalline silica, charcoal fines, and lime.  The employer did not make their Hazard Communication Program available upon request in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020 (e).