OSHA Inspection: A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 29, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $3,169 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.     a. On or about September 23, 2018, the access to two emergency exit doors in the northeast corner of the Molding Department was obstructed by pallets of stored material, thereby restricting employees from safely exiting the building in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Oct 29, 2018

Abate by

Mar 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,641 · Current $7,396 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met.     a. On or about September 23, 2018 and at times thereto, employees were using medias that had hazardous elements, such as, but not limited to, silica dust and copper dust. The employer did not develop and implement a hazard communication program at the workplace.

Issued

Oct 29, 2018

Abate by

Mar 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): Workplace labeling. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(7) and (f)(8) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either:    29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): The information specified under paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (v) of this section for labels on shipped containers; or,    29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): 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, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.     a. On or about September 23, 2018 and at times thereto, employees were using a filtration media that had hazardous elements. The employer did not ensure that the required labeling was provided for the GreensandPlus.

Issued

Oct 29, 2018

Abate by

Mar 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a. On or about September 23, 2018 and at times thereto, employees were using medias that had hazardous elements. The employer did not provide training for employees to ensure access to safety information, to retain knowledge of the hazards related to the materials present in the workplace, and the means and methods required to protect employees from those hazards.