OSHA Inspection: OFFICEMATE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 16, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,963 · Current $5,560 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(5): The employer did not ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors:    a) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Throughout the facility: Employees working in areas where hearing protection was required were observed improperly wearing their hearing protection such as, 3M E-Z fit ear plugs. Employees working in the production area are exposed to continuous noise levels of 89.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 88.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 94.3 dBA (stamping machine operator),  90.8 dBA (stamping machine operator), 86.2dBA (wire drawing operator) and 87.9dBA (injection molder operator) during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 583 minutes, 580 minutes, 578 minutes, 579 minutes, 566 minutes, and 558 minutes  respectively.     Condition observed on or about March 29, 2017.    NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 16, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program. Information in the training program was not updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes:  a) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Throughout the facility: The employer did not provide annual training for employees included in the hearing conservation program. Employees working in production areas where hearing protection was required were exposed to continuous noise levels of 89.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 88.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 94.3 dBA (stamping machine operator),  90.8 dBA (stamping machine operator), 86.2dBA (wire drawing operator) and 87.9dBA (injection molder operator) during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 583 minutes, 580 minutes, 578 minutes, 579 minutes, 566 minutes, and 558 minutes  respectively.   Condition observed on or about March 29, 2017.  NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,963 · Current $5,560 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Throughout the facility: The employer did not provide annual audiograms to employees included in the hearing conservation program. Employees working in production areas where hearing protection was required were exposed to continuous noise levels of 89.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 88.2 dBA (paper clipper operator), 94.3 dBA (stamping machine operator),  90.8 dBA (stamping machine operator), 86.2dBA (wire drawing operator) and 87.9dBA (injection molder operator) during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 583 minutes, 580 minutes, 578 minutes, 579 minutes, 566 minutes, and 558 minutes  respectively.     Condition observed on or about March 29, 2017.    NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 16, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,963 · Current $5,560 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d): Flammable liquids were not drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container or portable tanks by gravity through an approved self-closing valve:    a) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Paper clip area: Flammable liquid such as but not limited to V-4BMXH CPD (having flash point 55 F), was dispensed from a 55 gallon drum through a manually operated valve which was not self closing.        Condition observed on or about  March 29, 2017.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 23, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,171 · Current $4,520 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):      a) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Forklift Battery Charging Area: The employer authorized the use of forklift that had visible defects and did not remove that forklift from service.  Employees operated a Raymond, stand-up electric forklift which was leaking oil.      Condition observed on or about March 29, 2017.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 23, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,963 · Current $5,560 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) Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Plastic Area- Forklift battery charging cable connection had visible external damage compromising the integrity of the equipment and exposing employees to electrocution.    Condition observed on or about  March 29, 2017.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 23, 2017

Penalty

Initial $14,341 · Current $8,890 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition:    Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Throughout the facility- Employer did not ensure that floors throughout the production area are kept clean and orderly:  a) Plastic area: The floor where a forklift battery charger is located was covered with oil from a leak in the forklift. The floor was then covered with a cardboard.  b) Hardboard cutting area: The work area around the woodworking machine, Holzma HPP92 was not clean and orderly, in that, wood dust accumulation and plastic material used for packaging were observed on the floor.    Condition observed on or about  March 29, 2017.    The Officemate International Corp. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891670, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837.

Issued

Sep 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $17,927 · Current $11,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:    Officemate International Corp./90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ/Throughout the facility - Access to electrical panel boxes was blocked by boxes of products and other storage items:  a) Paper clip Area- The electrical panel labeled RP-E was observed blocked by an industrial fan and maintenance cart.  b) Paper clip Area- The electrical panel labeled #1 was observed blocked by boxes of products stored on a pallet.  c) Prong and fastener Area- The electrical panel labeled #3 was observed blocked by equipment and boxes.  d) Plastic Area- The electrical panel for injection molding machines was observed blocked by fan, hoses, and cardboard boxes.  e) Clipboard Area- Two electrical panels by the emergency exit door were observed blocked by cardboard boxes.    Condition observed on or about  March 29, 2017.    The Officemate International Corp. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 890912, citation number 1, item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with respect to a workplace located at 90 Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837.