OSHA Inspection: CREATIVE STONE, INC.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, the employer had not performed a hazard assessment of the workplace to determine if hazards were present which required the use of personal protective equipment. Failure to assess workplace for hazardous conditions exposed employees to the hazards of contact with acids and other chemicals.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not implement any elements of a written respiratory protection program for employees that voluntarily utilized both filtering face pieces (dust masks) and elastomeric half-face respirators during job duties, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.  Required program elements that were not developed and implemented include, but are not limited to, the following:  1910.134(e): Medical evaluation 1910.134(h): Cleaning, maintenance, and storage 1910.134(k): Training and information

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, the employer had not conducted an evaluation of the respiratory hazards associated with employee job duties to include but not limited to working with Portland cement, hydrochloric acid, and other hazardous chemicals, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees were required to perform cleaning activities on energized machinery, such as but not limited to the Batch Plant auger. No energy control procedure existed to render this machinery inoperative during servicing, exposing employees to the hazard of being caught in moving machinery.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees operated the Batch Plant machine which had an unguarded rotating auger and conveyor belts, exposing employees to the hazards of being caught in the rotating parts and nip points.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees operated the Batch Plant Machine which had multiple exposed, unguarded sprocket wheels and chains, exposing employees to the hazard of being caught in the sprocket wheel.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,031 · Current $1,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, the employer required employees to perform job tasks that included working with corrosive chemicals. The employer did not provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body, exposing employees to the hazard of corrosive chemical splashes.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, fire extinguishers outside of the manager's office were not mounted, exposing employees to the hazard of fire.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, fire extinguishers outside the manager's office had not had an annual maintenance inspection within 365 days, exposing employees to the hazard of fire.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,031 · Current $1,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees were operating forklifts without certification or training showing evaluation of safe operation within the past 3 years. Multiple employees were observed operating a forklift without utilizing the seatbelt restraint, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by or falling from a forklift.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There were damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of electric equipment, such as parts that were broken, bent, cut or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees were required to operate the Batch Plant machine using controls located on an electrical box which had an outer covering that was deteriorated by corrosion. The corrosion caused the wiring inside to be visible and accessible through a large hole in the covering, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Batch Plant Machine - Behind machinery (b) Flat Room - At employee exit door  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, breaker panels had either unlabeled circuits or illegible markings, exposing employees to both the hazard of electrical shock as well as hazards associated with delays in shutdown in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  (a) Flat Room - At employee exit door (b) Corner Room (c) Manager's Office Building - Rear corner by roll-up door  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, breaker boxes had access restricted due to miscellaneous work items being placed in front of them, such as wood and 5-gallon buckets, exposing employees to the hazards of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Openings through which conductors entered cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:    (a) Corner Room - Toggle switch boxes on motorized "shaker tables," outlet boxes attached to wooden shelving  (b) Flat Room - Toggle switch boxes on motorized "shaker tables"    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, multiple toggle switch boxes providing power to motorized "shaker tables" were powered by extension cords that entered the toggle switch boxes through holes that were not effectively closed, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  (a) Behind batch plant machine - Open breaker holes (b) Corner room / Flat room - Motorized 'shaker tables' had open knockouts in the toggle switch boxes  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, multiple breaker boxes and motorized 'shaker tables' had unused openings that were missing coverings or knockouts, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  (a) Corner Room - Outlet box attached to wooden shelving did not have a faceplate installed (b) Flat Room - Junction box next to air compressor did not have a faceplate installed  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, an outlet box in the Corner Room and a junction box in the Flat Room did not have faceplates installed, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 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:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, extension cords in the Corner Room were used in place of permanent electrical wiring to both provide power to an outlet box as well as to provide power from that outlet box to the motor of a "Shaker Table," exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, a flexible cord set (extension cord) was found to be taped in order to cover damage to the cord. The cord was connected to a motor on a "shaker table," and would be used to plug the motor in to a nearby outlet, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05779010P104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program for employees working in the production areas, exposing employees to hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, Propane, Hydrochloric Acid, Silicate, and Silicon Dioxide.    Required program elements that were not developed and implemented include, but are not limited to, the following:    1910.1200(f): Labels and other forms of warning.  1910.1200(g): Safety data sheets.  1910.1200(h): Employee information and training.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Apr 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(f)(2)(ii): Liquefied petroleum gas container(s) stored inside were located near exits, stairways, or in areas normally used or intended for the safe exit of people:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, propane tanks were stored adjacent to an employee exit located in the manager's office area, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by debris from an exploding cylinder.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

May 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  On or about 1 February 2019 and at times prior thereto, employees were provided with both filtering face pieces (dust masks) and elastomeric half-face respirators that they used on a voluntary basis. None of these employees had been provided any of information on respirators as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.