OSHA Inspection: RPS COMPOSITES ALABAMA, INC.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.144(a)(1)(iii): Emergency stop bars on hazardous machines such as rubber mills, wire blocks, flat work ironers, etc., were not red.  a) Curing Machine, North End: On or about October 30, 2017 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to amputation and crushed-by hazards, in that in that employees were allowed to operate and perform set-up and maintenance operations on the north end curing machine, while using a control dongle of which the stop bar was not red.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $6,652 · Current $4,000 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:  a) Pipe winding and Curing areas: On or about October 30, 2017, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to potentially hazardous energy sources such as electrical, in that machine specific procedures were not developed for, but not limited to, the pipe winder machines and curing machines.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $6,652 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee had not received training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control:  a) Plant Floor: On or about October 30, 2017 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electric shock, amputation, and other hazards, in that employees were allowed to perform set-up, maintenance, and clearing operations on, but not limited to, the Pipe Winder and Curing machines, without first being trained in the methods required to effectively isolate and control energy.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,315 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:  a) Plant Floor: On or about October 30, 2017 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electric shock, amputation, and other hazards, in that employees were allowed to perform set-up, maintenance, and clearing operations on, but not limited to, the Pipe Winder and Curing machines, without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,977 · Current $4,000 Reduced

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) Pipe Winder and Curing Stations (North): On or about October 30, 2017, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by, caught-on, and amputation hazards, in that the mandrel on the pipe winder and curing machines possessed protruding and spinning bolts that were not guarded.  b) Curing Station (North): On or about October 30, 2017, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to caught-on and amputation hazards in that spinning wheels on the curing station were not guarded when the mandrel on the pipe was attached to the machine.

Issued

Feb 12, 2018

Abate by

Feb 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii): Lockout/Tagout devices shall be the only devices used for controlling energy, shall not be used for other purposes and meet the requirements of 1910.147(c)(5)(ii) [A] thru 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)[D]  a) Plant Floor: On or about October 30, 2017 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electric shock, amputation, and other hazards, in that the locks used for lockout/tagout were used for other purposes, were not standardized, and did not identify the employee who applied the lock.