OSHA Inspection: THORWORKS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Jul 11, 2019

Abate by

Aug 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,210 · Current $10,210

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces. NOTE: Proper application of the decision flow chart in Appendix A to section 1910.146 would facilitate compliance with this requirement.    a. Thorworks Industries, Inc. located in Sandusky, Ohio:  On or about March 13, 2019 the employer did not adequately evaluate the workplace to determine if work areas such as, but not limited to, coal tar mix tank S-10 was a permit required confined space.

Issued

Jul 11, 2019

Abate by

Aug 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.    a. Thorworks Industries, Inc. located in Sandusky, Ohio:  On or about March 13, 2019, the employer did not ensure the permit required confined space program was properly implemented when employees entered coal tar mixing tanks to perform chipping operations.  The following elements of the company's permit required confined space program were not implemented:            1. Implement the measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry;           2. Identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees enter them;           3. Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space  entry operations;           4. Provide the testing, ventilation, and communications equipment at no cost to employees, maintain that equipment properly, and ensure that employees use that equipment properly;           5. Evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations are conducted;           6. Provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry is authorized for the duration of entry operations;           7. Designate the persons who are to have active roles in entry operations, identify the duties of each such employee, and provide each such employee with the training required by paragraph (g) of this section;           8. Develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue;           9. Develop and implement a system for the preparation, issuance, use, and cancellation of entry permits as required by this section;           10. Develop and implement procedures (such as closing off a permit space and canceling the permit) necessary for concluding the entry after entry operations have been completed;           11. Review entry operations when the employer has reason to believe that the measures taken under the permit space program may not protect employees and revise the program to correct deficiencies found to exist before subsequent entries are authorized;            12. Review the permit space program, using the canceled permits retained under paragraph (e)(6) of this section within 1 year after each entry and revise the program as necessary, to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are protected from permit space hazards.

Issued

Jul 11, 2019

Abate by

Aug 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,210 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence.    a. Thorworks Industries, Inc. located in Sandusky, OH:  On or about March 13, 2019, the employer did not ensure the agitator blades for tank S-10 was locked out prior to employees entering the tank to chip out coal tar.  Employees entering the tank to perform the chip out operation were exposed to the unexpected start-up of the agitator blades which rotate at approximately 59 rpm.

Issued

Jul 11, 2019

Abate by

Aug 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,293 · Current $3,647 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1): Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition was not removed from service. All repairs shall be made by authorized personnel.    a. Thorworks Industries, Inc. located in Sandusky, OH:  On or about March 13, 2019 the employer did not ensure #28 Komatsu, model FG25ST-16 KOM, forklift was equipped with a functioning parking brake.    b. Thorworks Industries, Inc.  located in Sandusky, OH:  On or about March 13, 2019 the employer did not ensure #31 Toyota, model 8FGU18 TOY, forklift was equipped with a functioning parking brake.    c. Thorworks Industries, Inc. located in Sandusky, OH:  On or about March 13, 2019 the employer did not ensure #26 Caterpillar, model C-5000 CAT, forklift was equipped with a legible data plate.