OSHA Inspection: ASPEN PRODUCTS INC.

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,195 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(1): Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats were not parallel, level, and uniformly spaced when the ladder is in position for use:    On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when using the ladders on the load end of the F&K printing press:  a. Rung spacing on the right ladder was 7 3/4, 9, 9 7/8, 8 1/2, 9 1/8, 9 1/2, 9 1/4, 7 7/8  b. Rung spacing on the left ladder was approximately the same    On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when using the ladder at the middle of the F&K printing press:  c. Ladder rungs were bent/damaged causing them to be non-parallel to the other rungs.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(2): Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats were not spaced at least 10 inches (25 cm) and not more than 14 inches (36 cm) apart, as measured between the centerlines of the rungs, cleats, and steps:   On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when using the ladders on the load end of the F&K printing press: a. Rung spacing on the right ladder was 7 3/4, 9, 9 7/8, 8 1/2, 9 1/8, 9 1/2, 9 1/4, 7 7/8 b. Rung spacing on the left ladder was approximately the same  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(9): Ladders were not inspected before the initial use in each work shift, or more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause injury:  On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when the ladders on the F&K printing press were to be inspected on a weekly basis during press PM.  The ladders on the press had deficiencies such as, but not limited to, the following:  variations in riser height, riser height less than required minimum of 10 inches, bent/damaged rungs, no grab bars/extended ladder side rails to transition to platforms/catwalks and the grab bar diameter was not the same or greater than the ladder rails.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10): The employer did not ensure any ladder with structural or other defects was immediately tagged "Dangerous: Do Not Use" or with similar language in accordance with 1910.145 and removed from service until repaired in accordance with 1910.22(d), or replaced:  On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when the ladders on the F&K printing press with defects were not taken out of service.  The ladders on the press had the deficiencies such as, but not limited to, the following:  variations in riser height, riser height less than required minimum of 10 inches, bent/damaged rungs, no grab bars/extended ladder side rails to transition to platforms/catwalks and the grab bar diameter was not the same or greater than the ladder rails.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(7):  Grab bars did not extend 42 inches (1.1m) above the access level or landing platforms served by the ladder.   or in the alternative:  29 CFR 1910.23(d)(4): The side rails of through or sidestep ladders did not extend 42 inches (1.1 m) above the top of the access level or landing platform served by the ladder.  On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards: a.  right side ladder on the lacquer end of the F&K printing press:  the side rails did not extend above the landing platform and the support to the guardrail on the right side was 38 1/2 inches high.  There was no guardrail on the left side of the platform. b. left side ladder on the lacquer end of the F&K printing press was approximately the same as the ladder on the right side c. ladder at approximately the middle of the F&K printing press that provided access to the catwalk:  side rails did not extend to the catwalk, there was no grab bar on the left side, the guardrail on the right side of the catwalk had a toeboard that obstructed access to the bottom of the guardrail preventing its use as a grab bar  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by a standard guardrail system.    On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when standard guardrails systems were not used:    a. The right platform on the lacquer end of the F&K printing press did not have a top rail or a midrail on the machine side, did not have a midrail on the other two sides, and the top rail was only 38 1/2 inches from the platform.    b. The left platform on the lacquer end of the F&K printing press was essentially a mirror image of the right platform.    c. The platform at the top of the roof ladder did not have midrails and the top rail is approximately 36 inches from the platform.    d. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to fall hazards when they stood on the guardrails in order to reach the paper while threading the F&K printing press.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $12,000 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. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught-by hazards when walking and working near the F&K printing press in that rollers (print cylinders) on lacquer end of F&K printing press (1 set) were not adequately guarded.    b. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught by hazards when walking and working near the F&K printing press in that rollers (print cylinders) on ink end of F&K printing press (3 sets) were not adequately guarded.    c. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught by hazards when the belts feeding the shaker tables were not guarded to prevent employees from being caught by the belt ingoing nip points    d. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught by hazards when the belts on the shaker tables were not guarded to prevent employees from being caught by the belt ingoing nip points    e. On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught by hazards when the gate/door on the shaker table returned to the closed position while the machine was running and the ingoing nip points were not guarded    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1): Gear(s) were not guarded by a complete enclosure or by one of the methods specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(1)(iii):    On or about May 14, 2018, employees were exposed to caught-by hazards when walking and working near the F&K printing press:  a. Gears (print cylinders) on lacquer end of F&K printing press (1 set) were not enclosed.  b. Gears (print cylinders) on ink end of F&K printing press (3 sets) were not enclosed.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 25, 2018

Abate by

Oct 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,033 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A log of all recordable work-related injuries and illness (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent) was not completed in the detail required by the regulation.    On or about May 14, 2018, the following entries in the OSHA 300 log were not complete:  a. On April 26, 2018, an employee suffered laceration to the forehead due to having a seizure and failing and hitting his head on a metal pole.  The injury had been classified as Days Away from Work but the number of Days Away from Work was left blank.    b. On April 26, 2018, an employee suffered pain in the right arm due to unknown reason.  The injury had been classified as Job Transfer/Restriction but the number of Job Transfer/Restriction days was left blank.  There was no injury or illness listed in column F.    c. On May 8, 2018, an employee suffered a right ring fingertip amputation.  The injury had been classified as Days Away form Work but the number of Days Away from Work was left blank.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.