OSHA Inspection: TRUE VALUE COMPANY

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $0 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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to combustible dust explosion and deflagration hazards resulting from an internal dust collector deflagration event within an indoor unprotected filter media dust collector.  On or about 5/10/17, the indoor Kinetic-AIR model 04VS26 (S/N A5050) filter media dust collector, responsible for collecting a mixture of combustible paint pigment material, was located indoors adjacent to a walkway used by employees to access the second story mezzanine in the batch making-dispersion area in building 6. The dust collector lacked means of (1) explosion protection and (2) deflagration propagation protection (isolation) for the upstream process and the material discharge/drum collection system located beneath the collector itself. The indoor dust collector was located in immediate proximity to the paint batch making and dispersion processes, and was located near stored materials.   In the event of an internal deflagration, employees inside of the building and in proximity to the dust collector are exposed to explosion hazards resulting from vessel failure due to over pressurization resulting in a pressure wave, expanding flame front (fire ball), and missile fragments. In the event of an internal deflagration, employees inside of the building are also exposed to propagating flame front hazards due to unprotected vessel connections, such as the dirty air inlet, dirty air return outlet, and the vessels material discharge outlet.  Finally, in the event of an internal fire, employees inside of the building may be exposed to the hazardous byproducts of an internal fire such as smoke, toxic gases, embers, and flames.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).  29 CFR 1910.25(b)(3): The employer did not ensure that stairs have uniform riser heights between landings.     On or about 5/10/2017, the employer did not ensure that the stair case in the tank farm in building 6 had risers of uniform height between steps. This condition exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices.   On or about 5/10/2017, employees routinely occupying the gas house were exposed to struck-by hazards when the Halon 1301 deflagration suppression system (DSS) was armed during entry.  In the event of the system discharging, an oxygen deficiency environment could be created and debris/equipment could become missile fragments due to the pressure on the system.  The employer did not comply with RAGAGEP, such as NFPA 69 (2014), Section 10.3, to ensure the system was disarmed during maintenance and operations prior to allowing employees to enter the gas house.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(4): The employer did not develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout; confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by maintenance, contractor, laboratory, or other support personnel.  On or about 5/10/2017, maintenance and operation employees routinely occupying the gas house were exposed to struck-by hazards when the Halon 1301 deflagration suppression system (DSS) was armed during entry.  In the event of the system discharging, an oxygen deficiency environment could be created and debris/equipment could become missile fragments due to the pressure on the system.  The employer did not develop and implement procedures for the control of hazardous energy when employees entered and performed routine work activities in the gas house.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2): Written procedures. The employer shall establish and implement written procedures to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment.  On or about 05/10/2017, the employer did not establish and implement mechanical integrity (MI) procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of process equipment to include how to address and resolve anomalous inspection findings.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,432 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(n): The emergency action plan did not include procedures for handling small releases.  On or about 5/10/2017, the employer did not include a procedure in the emergency action plan (EAP) that instructs employees how to distinguish between small and large releases or spills, and what employee actions are required in both instances. This condition exposed employees to chemical and fire hazards.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Nov 8, 2017

Abate by

Jan 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,432 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling.  On or about 5/10/2017, the employer did not ensure that electrical equipment was used in accordance with the instructions included on the labeling. The flat surfaces of the Hubbell-Killark aluminum junction box at the resin truck offloading area were not thoroughly cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer's labeling. This hazardous condition exposes employees to explosion hazards.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).