OSHA Inspection: CONTINENTAL PLASTIC CORP.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Nov 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,387 · Current $4,580 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 in that employees were exposed to combustible material dust fire hazards due to an indoor dust collector that exhausted filtered air from an upstream size reduction process directly into the occupied building:    On or about February 7, 2017, an indoor dust collection system (consisting of a particle separator [i.e., cyclone] and secondary enclosureless filters) was utilized to collect reground plastic scrap and the system directly exhausted filter air indoors.  Employees were exposed to combustible material dust fire hazards, including the hazardous byproducts of fire (smoke, toxic gases, embers, flames, etc.), as a result of the exhaust system terminating indoors.   In addition, the size reduction process (i.e. grinder) did not contain a method to remove foreign materials that could lead to material ignition inside of the process.  Finally, an air-moving device (i.e. fan/blower) handling the combustible material stream was located in between the grinder and a first stage cyclone and was not designed to limit the potential for material ignition.       Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be to follow the guidance in National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA) Standard 654 "Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, 2017 ed." - Sections 7.13.1.1 (location of air-material separators), 7.13.1.6 (exhaust air), 7.14 (size reduction equipment), and 7.12 (air-moving devices). Specifically, relocate the dust collection system associated with an upstream size reduction process to an outdoor location and prevent the return of exhausted air in order to materially reduce hazards associated with fire*.  Industry recognized ignition source controls for size reduction equipment include the use of electromagnets, permanent magnetic separators, and/or grates/screens to prevent the entry of tramp metal into the size reduction equipment.  Industry recognized ignition source controls for fans/blowers handling combustible dust include spark resistant construction such as that outlined in AMCA 99-0401-86 Classification for Spark Resistant Construction such as Type A, Type B, or Type C with spark detection and extinguishment located downstream of the fan.   Finally, where fire hazards exist provisions should be made to detect and extinguish sparks or embers prior to them reaching downstream collection equipment.     *The recycling of exhaust air from an outdoor dust collector back into the building may be made safe where provisions are incorporated to prevent the transmission of smoke and flame from a fire in the collector back into the building and the transmission of flame and pressure effects from a deflagration in the collector back into the building.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,232 · Current $2,747 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3): The employer did not ensure that the stairs had uniform riser heights and tread depths between the landings:    On or about February 7, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the stairs had uniform riser heights between the landings, in that the heights ranged from 8 inches to 11 inches.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,387 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(i): Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment was not protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.    On or about February 7, 2017, The employer did not ensure that the employee operating the grinder was protected from falling into the grinder in that no guardrail system was provided or travel restraint system, and the height of the top edge of the grinder was 37 inches height which is less than 4 feet above the grinder and the cover revealed a 17.5" opening into the grinder.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,310 · Current $3,663 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1): The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, were not 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface:    On or about February 7, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the top edge height of the guardrail surrounding the grinding platform was 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches in that the top edge of the guardrail was 36 inches above the walking-working surface.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): (2) Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high:  On or about February 7, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the guardrail surrounding the grinding platform had a midrail, screen, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members between the walking-working surface of the grinding platform and the top edge of the guardrail system when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(f)(4): Openings in a stair rail system exceeded 19 inches at its least dimension:  On or about February 7, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the openings on the stair rail system for accessing the grinding platform did not exceed 19 inches at its least dimension.