OSHA Inspection: J.C. WHITLAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Sep 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $7,243 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to hazardous condition(s):      On or about March 6, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that employees use adequate hand protection when handling hazardous chemicals. Employees routinely handle solvent cements, which contain chemicals including but not limited to, tetrahydrofuran, which is able to permeate through the skin. Employees also handle, corrosive chemicals, including but not limited to, FLOW-AIDE System Descaler, which has a pH of <1.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,174

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:    On or about June 15, 2018, the employer failed to have machine specific procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy. Employees performing work as mixing unit lead operators will clean the rotating shafts and blades on the four (4) Myers Mixers without locking-out the potentially hazardous energy. The mixing blades are powered by electric energy and have a pneumatic ram that lifts/lowers them into the mixing tank.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive 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:    On or about June 15, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that authorized employees have received adequate lockout/tagout training. The employees working as Mixing Unit Lead Operators will clean the rotating shafts and blades of the four (4) Myers Mixers at least weekly. All potentially hazardous energy is not isolated during cleaning. The mixing blades are powered by electric energy and have a pneumatic ram that lifts/lowers them into the mixing tank.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): All energy isolating devices that were needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment was not physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source:    On or about June 15, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that all potentially hazardous energy was isolated from the equipment in which cleaning was being performed. The employees working as mixing unit lead operators are required to clean the rotating shafts and blades on the four (4) Myers Mixers at least weekly. The mixing blades are powered by electric energy and have a pneumatic ram that lifts/lowers them into the mixing tank. The employer failed to ensure that the electric energy is locked out at the source and that the pneumatic line is drained and locked out before cleaning is performed.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about June 15, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that each authorized employee working on equipment affixed a personal lockout device. Mixing Unit Lead Operators will clean the rotating shafts and blades of the four (4) Myers Mixers at least weekly. Management will, at times, affix a lockout device to control potentially hazardous electric energy, however, not all authorized employees affix personal lockout devices. The mixing blades are powered by electric energy and have a pneumatic ram that lifts/lowers them into the mixing tank.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,105 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 March 6, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that there was adequate machine guarding on the GLP line where the lids are applied to the tops of cans containing product. The barrier guard is not secured and can be easily removed while the process is in operation.     b) On or about June 15, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that there was adequate machine guarding on the Solvent/Cement line where the lids are applied to the tops of cans containing product. The barrier guard is not secured and can be easily removed while the process is in operation.

Issued

Aug 16, 2018

Abate by

Oct 3, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $4,438 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    On or about March 6, 2018, the employer failed to ensure that all employees are provided effective training on the hazardous chemicals they work with at the time of initial assignment. Temporary employees did not receive hazard communication training. Employees routinely handle solvent cements, which contain chemicals including but not limited to, tetrahydrofuran, which is able to permeate through the skin. Employees also handle, corrosive chemicals, including but not limited to, FLOW-AIDE System Descaler, which has a pH of <1.