OSHA Inspection: SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIVES, INC.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Nov 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,577 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts, Plant 7; On and before October 11, 2018 the employer did not identify all permit confined spaces, including but not limited to the entrance to the pit under the tunnel kiln, with effective signage.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Sep 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, where work is actually performed upon the material being processed (point of operation) or where an associated danger zone exists during a machine operating cycle and the work did not meet the minor servicing exemptions found in 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(B).  Arc Cell and Ryple Press, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts, Plant 7; On and before September 13, 2018 the employer allowed employees to enter machinery without providing lockout procedures that protect employees from hazardous energy:  a.  Fence lockout for the CNC - (line L) and E-Stop lockout - (line M) The procedures contain the following "Do not enter the CNC, you may reach into the CNC, but your feet must remain firmly planted on the floor or on the steps in front of the CNC."  The procedures expose the employees' hand(s) to point of operation hazards.   c.  At the Ryple Press, the employees were using an interlock on the gate to the "rocket launcher" in order to enter and manually agitate the equipment to loosen stuck material.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Sep 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The periodic inspection certification of energy control procedures did not contain the required documentation on identification of the machine or equipment, inspection date, employees included, and the person performing the inspection:  Arc Cell, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts, Plant 7; On and before September 13, 2018 the employer did not provide certification of the inspections of the energy control procedures that included the identification of the machine or equipment, the inspection date, the employees included in the inspection, or the name of the person performing the inspection of the energy control procedures.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Sep 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,472 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  Arc Cell, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts, Plant 7; On and before September 13, 2018 the employer permitted the use of interlocks and E-stops for locking out equipment in lieu of using energy isolating devices as defined in 29 CFR 1910.147(b).

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Sep 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(6): Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that had been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee did not verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished:  Arc Cell, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc., Plant 7, One New Bond St., Worcester, Massachusetts; On and before September 13, 2018 the fence lockout and E-Stop lockouts for the Arc Cell did not provide steps for the verification of the lockout of the cell prior to entering into the fenced in hazard area.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Abate by

Nov 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,683 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  Plant 7, behind the Arc Cell, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts; On or before November 14, 2018 the electrical panel on pole G14 was blocked by equipment.

Issued

Jan 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  Saint-Gobain Abrasives, One New Bond St, Worcester, Massachusetts, Plant 7; On and before September 13, 2018 the employer used extension cords in lieu of permanent wiring.  a. ARC Cell - extension cord plugged into a relocatable power tap. b. ARC Cell - extension cord powering a relocatable power tap.