OSHA Inspection: BENCHMARK FOAM, INC.

Issued

Sep 26, 2016

Abate by

Oct 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $12,471

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(a): The conductors and/or equipment required or permitted by this subpart were not approved:    (a)Benchmark Foam, Inc. @ 401 Pheasant Ridge Drive, Watertown, SD 57201: On and prior to May 20, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the shop-made hot wire cutter used to cut excess expanded polystyrene foam was approved, certified, listed or labeled or otherwise determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The wooden paddles of the hot wire cutter were designed and constructed within the facility to be held by employees to cut excess foam off of newly molded polystyrene foam blocks. In the event the mold was opened prematurely and post expansion occurred, the hot wire cutter was used by employees to cut away excess expanded foam to allow the mold to close.  The wooden handles of the hot wire cutter had exposed, non-insulated electrical connections where employees held the cutter, thus exposing employees to live parts. On May 20, 2016, an employee utilizing the hot wire cutter to cut excess polystyrene foam came into direct contact with the electrical connections on the wooden handle of the cutting tool and was electrocuted. This condition exposed employees using the hot wire cutter to the hazard of electrical burns, shock and electrocution hazards.     Abatement Note: Under �1910.399, "the Assistant Secretary will deem an installation or equipment "acceptable" if it is "accepted, or certified, or listed, or labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a [NRTL] recognized pursuant to �1910.7." And with respect to installations or equipment that no NRTL "accepts, certifies, lists, labels, or determines to be safe," the Assistant Secretary will deem such equipment or installations "acceptable" if they are "inspected or tested by another Federal agency, or by a State, municipal, or other local authority responsible for enforcing occupational safety provisions of the National Electrical Code, and found in compliance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code as applied in" Subpart S.

Issued

Sep 26, 2016

Abate by

Oct 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1):  Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:     (a)Benchmark Foam, Inc. @ 401 Pheasant Ridge Drive, Watertown, SD 57201: On and prior to May 20, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the hot wire cutter used to cut excess expanded polystyrene foam was free from recognized hazards. The hot wire cutter was designed and constructed within the facility to cut excess foam off of newly created polystyrene foam blocks being manufactured. In the event the block mold was opened prematurely and post expansion occurred, the hot wire cutter was used by employees to cut away excess expanded foam to allow the mold to close.  The wooden paddles of the hot wire cutter had exposed non-insulated electrical connections where employees held the cutter, thus exposing employees to live parts. On May 20, 2016, an employee utilizing the hot wire cutter to cut excess polystyrene foam came into direct contact with the energized electrical connections on the wooden handle of the cutting tool and was electrocuted. This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of electrical burns, shock and electrocution hazards.