OSHA Inspection: RAFAEL HOLDINGS, INC.

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $40,048

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(2): Exit route doors were not free of a device or alarm that could restrict emergency use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails:  a) Work site was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  Non-Rafael employees located in an office on the sixth floor were exposed to smoke inhalation as one of the doors to their office space remained locked and prevented employees from escaping from the main entrance during an arc flash incident the knocked out power to half the building, causing them to exit from a secondary egress.   Violation occurred on or about January 31, 2019.

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $40,098

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1): Live parts to which an employee may be exposed were not deenergized before the employee worked on or was near to them:  a) Work site was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  Employees were exposed to potential electrical hazards as maintenance technicians worked on live 120 volt AC while changing ballasts for overhead fluorescent lights in the parking garage.  Violation occurred on or about January 14, 2019.  b) Work site was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  An employee was exposed to electrical hazards as a maintenance technician worked near live 480 volt AC while removing the bus duct cover on the sixth floor resulting in an arc flash.  A maintenance technician worked near live 480 VAC while removing a bus duct cover in the sixth floor electrical vault.  The cover contacted live bus bars resulting in an arc flash which burned the maintenance worker.  Violation occurred on or about January 31, 2019.

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $53,039 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.332(b)(1): Employees were not trained in and familiar with the safety-related work practices required by 1910.331 through 1910.335 that pertained to their respective job assignments:  a) Worksite was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  �a) A maintenance technician was not trained in safety-related work practices for electrical work such as removing 480 VAC bus duct covers.  An employee performing such operations was involved in an arc flash while working from an A frame ladder.  The worker fell to the floor and suffered second and third degree burns over 60 percent of his body.  Violation occurred on or about January 31, 2019  b) Work site was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102    b) Maintenance technicians were not trained in safety-related in safety-related work practices for electrical work such as working on live 120 volt AC while changing ballasts for overhead fluorescent lights in the parking garage.  Violation occurred on or about January 14, 2019.

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $53,039 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  a) Worksite was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  Employees exposed to electrical hazards were not provided with appropriate hand protection such as rubber insulating gloves and arc flash rated clothing while performing live electrical work including removing a 480 VAC bus duct cover.  An employee performing such operations was involved in an arc flash while working from an A frame ladder.  The worker fell to the floor and suffered second and third degree burns over 60 percent of his body.    Violation occurred on or about January 31, 2019  b) Worksite was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  Employees exposed to electrical hazards were not provided with appropriate hand protection such as rubber insulating gloves while performing live electrical work including changing out 120 VAC ballasts.  Violation occurred on or about January 14, 2019

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2)(i): The employer did not maintain a written copy of the procedures outlined in paragraph (b)(2) of 29 CFR 1910.333 and did not make it available for inspection by the Assistant Secretary of Labor and his or her authorized representatives:  a) Worksite was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102   a) Employees were exposed to potential electrical hazards without written procedures for de-energizing 120 volt circuits while changing ballasts.    Violation occurred on or about January 14, 2019.

Issued

Jul 12, 2019

Abate by

Jul 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $40,098

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(c)(2): The employer did not ensure that only qualified persons were allowed to work on energized circuit parts or equipment that had not been de-energized under the procedures of paragraph (b) of this section:  a) Worksite was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102   a) Employees were exposed to electrical hazards because general maintenance mechanics performing live electrical work, such as changing ballasts on 120 volt circuits, were not qualified to do such work.  Violation occurred on or about January 14, 2019  b) Work site was located at 520 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102  b) An employee was exposed to electrical hazards as a maintenance technician who was not qualified to work on such systems worked near live 480 volt AC while removing a bus duct cover on the sixth floor resulting in an arc flash.   Violation occurred on or about January 31, 2019.