OSHA Inspection: BRIGHTVIEW LANDSCAPES, LLC

Issued

Feb 22, 2017

Abate by

May 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $10,000 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):    On or about October 12, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while performing maintenance activities on a Vermeer BC 1500 brush chipper (inventory number 28927).  The employer's written lockout/tagout program did not include specific procedural steps that clearly stated the necessary steps for machine shut down, the isolation and the securing of hazardous energy.  The same program did not provide procedural steps for the placement and removal of lockout devices.  There were no specific requirements or procedures to determine and verify that all hazardous energy was dissipated from the mechanical transmission system or other systems of the brush chipper.        Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 22, 2017

Abate by

May 1, 2017

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:    On or about October 12, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while performing maintenance activities on a Vermeer BC 1500 brush chipper (inventory number 28927).  The employer did not conduct a periodic inspections of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of the standard were being followed.        Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 22, 2017

Abate by

May 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:    On or about October 12, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while performing maintenance activities on a Vermeer BC 1500 brush chipper (inventory number 28927).  The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees.         Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 22, 2017

Abate by

May 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(i): Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware were not provided by the employer for isolating, securing, or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources:    On or about October 12, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while performing maintenance activities on a Vermeer BC 1500 brush chipper (inventory number 28927).  The employer did not provide locks, tags, blocks or other hardware to isolate, secure or block the machine to control hazardous energy from the mechanical transmission system or other systems of the brush chipper.  There was no provision to secure the ignition key from use.         Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 22, 2017

Abate by

May 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):    On or about October 12, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards while performing maintenance activities on a Vermeer BC 1500 brush chipper (inventory number 28927).  The employees were not required to apply energy controls in the following sequence prior to starting work:     (a) prepare for shut down by recognizing energy hazards and its controls,  (b) turn off and shut down the machines,  (c) physically locate and operate energy isolating devices in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source,  (d) affix lockout or tagout devices to each energy isolating device,  (e) render safe all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy,  (f) verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.    An employee performing maintenance tasks had his fingers exposed to caught-in hazards when attempting to detect if the chipping drum was jammed. Hazardous energy controls (lockout) were not implemented and performed to protect the employee from the caught-in hazard, likely to result in amputation.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).