OSHA Inspection: UNITED PERSONNEL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Abate by

Jun 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $6,338 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces: There was not a sign reading DANGER-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or use of other similar language to satisfy the requirement.    730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA    On March 23, 2017 and at times prior, the tanks of plastic mixer machines were posted with Danger Confined Space signs, but the tanks were permit-required confined spaces.  On November 23, 2016, an employee entered the tanks to perform cleaning, but the employee was not aware the tanks were permit-required confined spaces.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Abate by

Jun 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:  730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA  On March 23, 2017 and at times prior, the employer had not implemented a written confined space program even though employees were required to periodically enter the permit-required confined space tanks of plastic mixer machines.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Abate by

Jun 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(7)(iii): When a permit-required confined space was reclassified as a non-permit confined space, the employer did not document the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space had been eliminated through a written certification that contained the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person making the determination:  730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA  On November 23, 2017 and at times prior, employees entered the permit-required confined space tanks of plastic mixer machines.  The employee entered the tanks after only isolating and locking out the hazardous electrical energy, but without the reclassification process and documentation being accomplished.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $6,338 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.    730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA    On January 18, 2017 and at times prior, employees operated powered industrial trucks after receiving practical training but without having received formal training or evaluation.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Powered industrial trucks which were used on a round-the-clock basis were not examined for defects after each shift:    730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA  On January 18, 2017 and at times prior, employees operated powered industrial trucks on a round-the-clock basis and the powered industrial trucks were only inspected on one shift each day.

Issued

Apr 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $6,338 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was 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:    730 Worcester St, Springfield, MA      On January 11, 2017 and at times prior, employees who cleaned plastic scraps from under and adjacent to a conveyor machine were exposed to the unguarded belt and roller nip point.  On January 11, 2017, an employee received arm and hand injuries after being caught in the unguarded conveyor nip point.