OSHA Inspection: BLUE BELL MATTRESS COMPANY, INC.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3695.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in CFR 1910.6:  Ref. CGA, Pamphlet P-1, 1968, Section 3.3.1 referencing CGA Pamphlet P-1, 2006, Section 5.7.4.    A.  Receiving Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, six cylinders of Permagrip 680 NF adhesive were stored, unsecured.    B.  Maintenance Area: On, or about, August 15, 2019, two cylinders of Permagrip 680 NF adhesive were stored, unsecured.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4347.00 · Current $2400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:      Mattress Build:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, employees who used Vertex pneumatic staple guns were not provided with safety glasses with side shields.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7246.00 · Current $4000.00 Reduced

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:    A. Maintenance Shop:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a guard was not provided for the chuck on the lathe portion of the Northern Model 143352 combination lathe/drill machine.      B. Quilting, Machine #9, Gribetz Quilter Q17209NT:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, The limit switch that was provided for the guard over the slitter knives did not make contact with the guard, so if the guard was lifted, the machine did not shut down as designed.  Also, the machine was not provided with an emergency stop device in the interior quilting section of the machine.    C. Quilting:  Machine #4, Gribetz Quilter:  On or about, August 20, 2019, the limit switch that was provided for the guard over the slitter knives did not make contact with the guard, so if the guard was lifted, the machine did not shut down as designed.      D. Foundation Area:  Whirlwind Model 1000L up-cut saw, serial number K2158215L.  The adjustable guard was stuck in the raised position and did not drop down to protect the cutting area when the saw was cycled.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4927.00 · Current $2700.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    In the following locations, drive belts were not adequately guarded:    A.      Box Spring Sew:  Drive belts provided on the following sewing machines were not provided with guards for the portion of the belt under the table:    1.       Machine 8, Union Special  2.       Machine 7, Union Special.  3.       Machine 29, Union Special.      B.      Mattress Cappers:  Drive belts provided on the following sewing machines were not provided with guards for the portion of the belt under the table:    1.       Machine #13:  PSM Porter 401-00.  2.       Machine #8:  PSM Porter 401-00.    C.      Gusset/Pillow Top:  Drive belts provided on the following sewing machines were not provided with guards for the portion of the belt under the table:    1.       Machine #4:  PSM Porter 401 400.  2.       Machine #31 Porter.     D.      Quilting:  Gribetz Quilting Machine #3:  Belt and pulley drives for the slitter and drive rolls were not fully enclosed in a guard.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3695.00 · Current $2000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:    Gusset/Pillow Top:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, flexible drop cables provided for the Handle Making machine had been run through and attached to the underside of industrial racking, which was not a proper installation in accordance with the National Electrical Code.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:  A.      Compressor Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a red and black extension cord was used to energize the automatic condenser valve on the Atlas Copco air compressor Model GX11FF.  B.      Maintenance Shop:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a GE microwave oven was energized through an extension cord. C.      Maintenance Shop:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a brown extension cord was used to energize lights mounted above the drill press and lathe. D.      Foundation Off-Load Area:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, a yellow extension cord was used to energize a rack mounted fan. E.       Middle of Plant:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, the break timer/buzzer unit was energized through flexible cord that was attached to the building surface using plastic ties.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4927.00 · Current $2700.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.    Foundation Area, Electrical Area:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, the opening in the dead front of Panel HVPP1, a Square D 480/277 volt panelboard, was covered with paper.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): Electric equipment had damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:  Shipping:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, a duplex receptacle provided at the end of the main off-load conveyor was broken, causing the top outlet to protrude out of the enclosure.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4347.00 · Current $2400.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening whwere they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:    A.  Main Service Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a metal railing had been installed 37 inches from the face of the Square D switchboard enclosure for the main electrical service.    B.  Substation Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a metal railing had been installed 38 inches in front of the GE switchboard enclosure for the South Sub Main Panel.      C.  Foundation Area, Electrical Area:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, a metal railing had been installed 29 inches in front Panel LVP6B and Panel HVLP4.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(C): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the width of work space was not clear and did not extend from the grade, floor, or platform to the height required by paragraph (g)(1)(vi) of 29 CFR 1910.303.  Other equipment associated with the electrical installation and located above or below the electric equipment may not extend 153 mm (6 in.) beyond the front of the electric equipment::  A.  Shipping Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, an ACME transformer had been installed in the working space for a Square D panelboard labeled as generator panel. B.  Substation:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a Square D transformer had been installed in the working space for a GE panelboard labeled as Panel A.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage:  Receiving, Battery Charging Area:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, an old desk and other items were stored in front of an I-T-E disconnect switch for a fan.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5796.00 · Current $3300.00 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:     Company:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, maintenance personnel had not been trained regarding what work practices and protective equipment was required to protect them against electric shock, arc flash and arc blast hazards while conducting basic electrical testing and when verifying whether or not electrical equipment was properly de-energized.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:    Company:  Personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, voltage rated gloves, fire resistive clothing, face shields, hard hats and hearing protection were not provided to employees who performed live electrical work, including trouble-shooting, or who verified that electrical equipment was properly de-energized.    Abatement Note:  Per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70E,  Electrical Safety in the Workplace, all layers worn under fire resistive clothing must be non-melting (e.g., cotton).

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(10): Ladders having defects were not marked and taken out of service until repaired:  Receiving:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a Louisville mobile ladder was missing a caster and had a bent frame.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually to ensure that the procedures and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  Plant:  On, or about, August 20, 2019, the company's lock-out/tag-out program had not been subject to an annual review since it had been developed and implemented in 2004.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:   Maintenance Shop:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a Craftsman drill press was not lagged or secured to prevent tipping or walking.

Issued

2019-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:   Boxspring Sew, Machine 12:  On, or about, August 15, 2019, a compressed air nozzle used for cleaning was measured to be 80 p.s.i., dead-ended.