OSHA Inspection: JAMES AUSTIN COMPANY

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3): Walking-working surfaces were not maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice:    a.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the tank farm, the walkway consisting of loose concrete blocks was uneven and had holes on the walking path, exposing employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $6,652 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(11): Portable ladders used to gain access to an upper landing surface did not have side rails that extended at least 3 feet (0.9 m) above the upper landing surface:    a.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the north side of the production building, the employer did not ensure that the portable ladder used to access the sky tanks had the side rails extended at least 3 ft. above the landing surface, exposing employees to a 12 ft. fall hazards.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,240 · Current $4,240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, Section 3.5.3, as adopted by 29CFR 1910.101(b):  Do not store reserve stocks of cylinders containing flammable gases with cylinders containing oxygen:  a.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the southwest side of the production floor, compressed gas cylinders of oxygen and acetylene were being stored together.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,654 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the southwest area of the production floor, the wall mounted eyewash station close line no. 1 was not ready accessible for immediate emergency use because it was blocked by wood pallets with boxes of product.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,315 · Current $4,500 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.  On or about November 2, 2017, at production line 1, the Laub/Hunt Rotary Filling machine was being operated with the filler protective guards removed, exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    b.  On or about December 5, 2017, at production line 2, the New Way Labeler machine was being operated with the belt guard lifted, exposing the operator to being caught-in and amputation hazard.    c.  On or about December 5, 2017, at production lines 1 and 2, operators of the New Way Labeler machines were placing their hands into the label pickup area while machine was in operation to make sure labels were being grabbed by bottles, exposing to being caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,315 · Current $5,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:     a.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the tank farm, the employer did not ensure that 6500 gal storage tanks containing different liquid concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (bleach at 12%-16% range) were properly labeled, marked or tagged with the product identity and hazard of the chemical contained therein.    b.  On or about November 2, 2017, in the production area, the employer did not ensure that two 600 gal sky tanks containing different liquid concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (bleach at 12%-16% range) were properly labeled, marked or tagged with the product identity and hazard of the chemical contained therein.    c.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the north side of the production building, the employer did not ensure that two 2000 gal storage tanks containing an aqueous concentration of ammonium hydroxide were properly labeled, marked or tagged with the product identity of the chemical contained therein.    d.  On or about November 2, 2017, at the north side of the production building, the employer did not ensure that two 600 gal sky tanks, one allegedly containing ammonium hydroxide and other allegedly containing sodium hypochlorite were properly labeled, marked or tagged with the product identity and hazard of the chemical contained therein.