OSHA Inspection: VERLA INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,130 · Current $6,098 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 was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by one or more of the following:  Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:      a) Main Building Packaging "A" Area - On December 1, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a mid-rail for fall protection along the unprotected edge of the area above the offices in the production area used for storage of equipment, only a top guard rail was in place.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(f)(4): An opening in a stair rail system exceeded 19 inches at its least dimension:  a) Main Building, near Production Line "A" - On December 1, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a mid-rail for fall protection along the edge of a stairway, and the stairway landing 6 feet above the floor, which created an opening that exceeded 19 inches.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Abate by

May 11, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $9,701 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors from sources such as open flames; lightning; smoking; cutting and welding; hot surfaces; frictional heat; static, electrical, and mechanical sparks; spontaneous ignition, including heat-producing chemical reactions; and radiant heat:      a) Batching Area in the Main Building - On and prior to November 20, 2017, the employer did not take precautions to prevent ignition of flammable liquids during transfer. Employees were exposed to fire and explosion while transferring flammable liquids including but not limited to Hexamethyldisiloxane (Class 2 flammable liquid ).  Sources of ignition were not evaluated including but not limited to the static electricity from polypropylene lab coats and the use of paper towels to clean small spills of flammable liquids.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Abate by

Jun 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,130 · Current $6,098 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:      a) 463 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor - On December 1, 2017, and at times prior, the employer designated certain employees for fire extinguisher use, but did not repeat the training at least annually for those employees.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $6,097 · Current $4,573 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 P.S.I.:     a) Main Building Metal Shop - On December 20, 2017, and at times prior, the employer provided compressed air for cleaning purposes in the shop area that was at 43 p.s.i., exposing employees to potential air embolism.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $6,098 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:    a) Main Building Buildings 2, 3, and 4 - On December 1, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not legibly mark each disconnecting means, and circuit breaker inside panel boxes, as to its purpose.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(e)(1)(i): The service disconnecting means was not readily accessible nearest the point of entrance of the service-entrance conductors:  a)  Main Building Packaging "A" Area - On December 1, 2017, and at times prior, the service entrance disconnecting means was installed too high to be readily accessible. The switch was mounted approximately 9 feet from the floor, making the handle inoperable from the floor level.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Abate by

May 11, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $9,701 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations was not intrinsically safe, approved, or safe for Class 1/Division 2 hazardous (classified) locations:    a) Batching Area in the Main Building Addition - On November 20, 2017, and at times prior, the employer used standard electrical equipment and electrical wiring such as but not limited to outlets, lighting, the drum lifter and electrical panels within the batching area.  The employer transferred category 2 flammable liquids such as but not limited to Hexamethyldisiloxne and Isopar "C", in this area it was thus a Class 1 Division 2 location.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Abate by

May 11, 2018

Penalty

Initial $129,336 · Current $97,002 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 2 flammable liquids, with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and the container(s) being electrically interconnected:    a) Main Building Addition Batching Area - On November 20, 2017, and at times prior, a catastrophic explosion and fire occurred while category 2 flammable liquids including, but not limited to Hexamethyldisiloxane, and Isopar "C," were transferred between containers.  The source container, the nozzle in-between, and the receiving container were not electrically interconnected and were not grounded.          Verla International, LTD, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR1910.106(e)(6)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1191945, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on  May 25, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 463 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.    Verla International, LTD, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR1910.106(e)(6)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891395, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on  June 13, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 463 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.

Issued

May 7, 2018

Abate by

May 11, 2018

Penalty

Initial $71,137 · Current $53,353 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iii): Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area were not kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles, and disposed of daily:    a) Main Building Batching Area - On November 20, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure paper towels used to clean up flammable liquid spills, such as, but not limited to  Hexamethyldisiloxane and/or, Isopar "C," were kept to a minimum in covered metal receptacles, but were instead disposed of in open top trash bins along with all other trash creating a fire hazard.      Verla International, LTD, was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR1910.106(e)(9)(iii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 891395, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on June 13, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 463 Temple Hill Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.