OSHA Inspection: PYROTECHNIC SPECIALTIES, INC.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $6,126 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(i)(F): The employer did not develop and implement written operating procedures that provided clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process consistent with the process safety information to shut down the process during normal operation.    a) Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto the employer did not ensure that the Remote Pelleting machine was clean and free of hazardous material at the end of each shift.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $6,126 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(l)(1): The employer did not establish written procedures to manage changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures, and changes to facilities that affect a covered process.  a) Plant, Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto the employer did not prepare Management of Change procedures (MOC) to manage the changes recorded in Operation Procedure OP-1009 Pelletizing Pellets (Revision B, 07/12/17), Operation Procedure OP-1010 Rotary Press Setup (Revision B, 07/12/17), and Operation Procedure OP-1011 Pellet Press Cleaning (Revision B, 07/12/17).     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $6,126 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  a) Plant, Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that personal protective equipment was in use according to Operation Procedures OP-1009, OP-1010, and OP-1011 in order to protect pellet machine operators from fire and thermal radiation hazards.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $18,564 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(g)(3): The employer did not ascertain that each employee involved in operating a process had received and understood the training required by this paragraph and the employer did not prepare a record which contained the identity of the employee, the date of training, and the means used to verify that the employee understood the training.  a) Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto employees assigned to conduct production operations, equipment setup, and cleaning for PSM-covered processes. The employer did not ensure that employees received the necessary training, and the employer did not prepare a record identifying the employee, the date of the training, and the means used to verify that the employees understood the training.  Pyrotechnic Specialties, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.119(g)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1154931, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/26/16, with respect to a workplace located at 1661 Juniper Creek Road, Byron, GA 31008.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $92,820 · Current $32,622 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(4): The employer did not develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as changing dies in pelletizing machines:  a) Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto the employer did not ensure that an employee implemented safety precautions for die changing and rotary press setup as required by safe work practices as set forth in the Pelletizing Pellets, Rotary Press Setup and Pellet Press Cleaning, and specified in OP-1009, OP-1010 and OP-1011. Contrary to the requirements of these procedures, an employee was allowed to:  1. Use of regular steel tool (ratchet wrench) was allowed in service for loosening/adjusting dies in the pellet machine. Use of non-sparking tools was not implemented and enforced.   2. Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto the floor surfaces were not maintained in smooth condition in order to prevent accumulation and facilitate the removal of hazardous materials.   3. Pellet Area - On or about 03/14/19 and at times prior thereto , coated ungrounded five-gallon steel pails in inverted position were used as sitting stools in proximity of the pellet machines.     Pyrotechnic Specialties, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.119(f)(4), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1154931, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/26/16, with respect to a workplace located at 1661 Juniper Creek Road, Byron, GA 31008.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 5, 2019

Abate by

Oct 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $1,327 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A Log of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA From 300 or equivalent), was not completed in detail as required by the regulation.  a) Plant, Pellet 2 Area - In calendar year 2018, OSHA Form 300, Record #4, the employer described a case of flash burns to hands and forearm from ignited material which was treated in an emergency room. The incident was not recorded as an injury, and the inaccurate injury page total was transferred to the Form OSHA300-A.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).