OSHA Inspection: INNOCOR FOAM TECHNOLOGIES

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Jun 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $2,535 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 in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by a powered industrial truck.     On or about 23 November, 2016, and at times prior thereto, employees were operating forklifts without wearing the equipped seatbelts, exposing the employees to the hazard of being struck by a forklift.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $1,521 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(c)(4): The stairway did not have a minimum width of 22 inches (56 cm) between vertical barriers.     On or about 17 November 2016, and at times prior thereto, the fixed stairwell to the left of the foam pouring platform that leads to the TDI offloading area, did not have a minimum width of 22 inches.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11)(ii): The employer did not provide at least one handrail on a flight of stairs that had 3 treads and 4 risers and that was less than 44 inches in width.   On or about 17 November, 2016, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide a handrail on the stairwell to the left of the foam pouring platform that led to the TDI offloading area and was frequently used by foam pouring platform and foam tunnel personnel, exposing them to the hazards of trips and falls.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $2,535 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator was fit tested whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter.    On or about 23 November 2016, the employer did not ensure that the employees required to wear respirators on site in the foam pouring area were fit-tested with the exact respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) as the ones provided on site while being exposed to Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), exposing the employees to an inhalation hazard.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not ensure that facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function was shaved.   On or about 17 November 2016, where employees on the foam pouring platform and in the foam pouring tunnel were using respirators when conducting the foam pouring operations where the employer did not effectively enforce the absence of facial hair, exposing the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $2,535 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(3): When the employer decided that its employees would not enter permit required confined spaces, effective measures were not taken to prevent its employees from entering the permit spaces.     On or about 17 November 2016, employees routinely enter a permit required confined space underneath the foam pouring platform to cut away excess tarp from the bottom plastic feeder while it was still rotating, exposing the employee to the hazards of being caught in the machinery.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $3,549 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding were not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.     On or about 17 November, 2016 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide a method of machine guarding in the following instances:     a. Underneath the foam pouring platform, employees were working on the roller while it was still rotating, exposing the employee to the hazard of being caught in the machinery.    b. To the left of the foam pouring platform leading to the TDI offloading area, a picketed roller to the right, and in close proximity of the descending stairwell, was unguarded, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by and or being caught in the machinery.    c. On the conveyor just outside of the foam pouring tunnel, a vertical saw blade that would move back and forth to cut the foam pieces while they moved down the conveyor was unguarded, exposing the employees to being struck by and or  being caught in the machinery.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $1,521 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): All sprocket wheels and chains were not enclosed when they were not more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform.     On or about November 23, 2016, and at times prior thereto, employees were working in the foam pouring tunnel where unguarded chains and sprockets were present, exposing the employees to the hazard of  being caught in the rotating sprockets and chains.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,028 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(ix): All lamps for general illumination were not protected from accidental contact or breakage by a suitable fixture or lampholder with a guard.     On or about November 17, 2016 and at times prior thereto, three employees were working in the foam pouring tunnel during the startup with uncovered fluorescent lights approximately 5'5" above the ground, exposing the employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 13, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled equipment were not installed and used in accordance with the instructions included in the listing or labeling.  On or about November 23, 2016, and at times prior thereto, employees were using an electrical power strip as a permanent wiring system on the foam pouring platform to power a monitor, exposing the employees to the hazards of electrical shock and burns.

Issued

Apr 7, 2017

Abate by

Apr 26, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $2,535 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Toluene-2,4 diisocyanate (TDI) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the ceiling concentration of 0.14 mg/m3 or 0.02 PPM:    On or about 18 November 2016, employees working in the foam pouring tunnel were exposed to Toluene-2,4 diisocyanate (TDI) at levels that were 1.5 times the ceiling limit of 0.14 mg/m3 or 0.02 PPM, exposing the employees to an inhalation hazard.