OSHA Inspection: CREATIVE POLYMERS, LLC

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Feb 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,434 · Current $4,434

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not provide and ensure that personal protective equipment for the body, face, and extremities was utilized by employees who performed tasks such as, but not limited to, purging the Milacron pelletizer.  Employees that purged the machine were exposed to burns from steam and molten plastic.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Feb 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not perform an adequate hazard assessment to determine and ensure the use of proper protective equipment to be worn by employees exposed to eye and burn injuries when operating the Milacron and Gala pelletizer.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, employees who purged the Milacron were not protected from potential flying hot plastic and/or steam.  The employer did not ensure the machine was guarded to protect employees from burn injuries.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,174

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 13, 2017, the employer failed to develop and implement an energy control program that includes training, written procedures, and audits to protect employees who perform maintenance and servicing such as, but not limited to, cleaning and changing the blade on the Gala pelletizer.  Employees were exposed to the unexpected startup of the rotating blade.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $3,696

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 13, 2017, employees operated a powered industrial vehicle(s) to lift and maneuver materials such as, but not limited to, boxes and bags of plastic.  The employer did not ensure that employees successfully completed a forklift operator training program containing elements in 29 CFR 1910.178(l) before being permitted to operate the forklift.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $3,696

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not ensure that the pulleys, used to power the Witte Co., Inc. shaker table (s/n 3269-4), were guarded.  Employees were exposed to hazards created by the rotating parts.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the inclined belt associated with the Witte Co., Inc. shaker table (s/n 3269-4) motor exposed employees to caught-by hazards in that the rotating part was not guarded.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Feb 9, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $2,217

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not assure that two unused opening located on the Kreyenborg electrical distribution panel for the extruder's controls were effectively closed.  The electrical box, located adjacent to the extruder platform, exposed employees to a 460 volt electrical hazard.   b. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not assure that an unused opening located on the electrical panel for the Buskirk #1 controls was effectively closed.  The electrical box, located adjacent to the grinder conveyor, exposed employees to a 460 volt electrical hazard.   c. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the 460 volt Milacron electrical enclosure (s/n x64A0100002) associated with the extruder was not effectively closed.  An opening in the enclosure was made to allow for an air conditioning unit.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Feb 9, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $2,217

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, flexible extension cords used to power the Buskirk #1 control panel were used as a substitute for fixed wiring.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the electrical equipment was not permanently arranged.   b. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio:  On or about September 15, 2017, flexible extension cords used to power a permanently mounted air conditioning unit located at the Milacron electrical enclosure (s/n x64A0100002) were used as a substitute for fixed wiring.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the electrical equipment was not permanently arranged.   c. Creative, Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, flexible extension cords used to power a monitor that was located on the Gala control panel were used as a substitute for fixed wiring.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the electrical equipment was not permanently arranged.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Feb 9, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $2,217

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 20, 2017, a flexible extension cord used to power a portable fan was not connected to fittings which prevented strain relief.  The flexible cord was pulled from the plug, exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.    b. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 15, 2017, the employer did not ensure that flexible cords used to power the Buskirk #1 control panel were connected to fittings that prevented strain relief.  Employees that operated the equipment were exposed to electrical shock injury.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,174

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 11, 2017, the employer did ensure employees who performed electrical work were trained in and familiar with safety related work practices.  Employees that performed tasks such as, but not limited to, replacing fuses, troubleshooting, and wiring conductors were exposed to electrical hazards.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(a): Safety-related work practices were not employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work was performed near or on equipment or circuits which were or could be energized:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 11, 2017, the employer did not develop and implement electrical safety related work practices which cover employees exposed to live electrical conductors while performing electrical work.  Maintenance personnel responsible for troubleshooting and/or performing electrical tests on the Milacron distribution panel were exposed to hazards in that electrical safe work practices were not employed to prevent electrical shock and/or arc flash/blast injuries.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,174

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2): While an employee was exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which were deenergized, the circuits energizing the parts were not locked out or tagged or both in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (b) of 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2):  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure that a lock and tag was used on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which electrical work was to be performed.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that a lock and tag were not attached to the Kreyenborg electrical panel, used to power 240V junction boxes for the heater bands, which employees accessed to re-wire the heater band zones.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(iv): Qualified persons did not use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees were exposed and verify the circuit elements and equipment parts were deenergized:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 11, 2017, a qualified person did not use test equipment to verify deenergization of circuits before an employee(s) replaced a fuse in a 480 volt electrical panel for the Milacron.

Issued

Jan 17, 2018

Abate by

Jan 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,174

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  a. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 11, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees who perform electrical troubleshooting and replace fuses were provided with and used personal protective equipment to protect against electrical hazards.  An employee troubleshooting then replacing a fuse in a 480 volt electrical panel for the Milacron was exposed to electrical shock and arc flash hazards in that flame resistant clothing, rubber insulated and leather gloves, hard hat, and arc rated face shield were not worn during the electrical work.     b. Creative Polymers, LLC - Bloomdale, Ohio: On or about September 11, 2017, employees using a volt meter to verify deenergization were exposed to electrical hazards in that electrical personal protective equipment was not provided and used.  An employee verifying the absence of power prior to re-wiring for the Milacrons heater zones was exposed to electrical shock and arc flash hazards in that flame resistant clothing, leather gloves, hard hat, and arc rated face shield were not worn during the electrical work.