OSHA Inspection: SINTERTEC, DIV OF BPI, INC.

Issued

Oct 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,400 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:    West end of the plant site:  On or about June 27, 2017, employees modified and used two hand held propane fueled torches to dry alumina sludge.  The torches modification and subsequent use were not in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions exposing the employees to the hazards of fire and explosion.

Issued

Oct 3, 2017

Abate by

Oct 12, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,605 · Current $3,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system:    Ball Mill #6:  On July 11, 2017, and times prior to, employees operated and maintained Ball Mill #6.  There was no fall protection on the mill top on its North and West sides exposing the employees to the hazard of falls over 4 feet.

Issued

Oct 3, 2017

Abate by

Nov 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,500 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:    Plant:  On or about July 11, 2017, and times prior to, employees operated and maintained plant equipment as blenders and ball mills. The employer had not marked the equipment as permit confined spaces exposing the employees to the struck by and caught in hazards.

Issued

Oct 3, 2017

Abate by

Nov 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    Plant:  On and about July 11, 2017, and times prior to, employees operated and maintained plant equipment that contained  stored energy sources as electro-mechanical,  and gravitational.  Specific lockout/Tagout procedures had not been developed exposing the employees to the hazardous energy sources.

Issued

Oct 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer failed to report the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees or an employee's amputation or an employee's loss of an eye, as a result of a work-related incident, within (24) twenty-four hours:    Plant:  On or about June 27, 2017, two employees received severe burns that resulted in hospitalization.  The hospitalizations were not reported in the required 24 hours.