OSHA Inspection: DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): (1) Walking-working surfaces were not inspected, regularly and as necessary, and maintained in a safe condition:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the pipefitting shop on the mezzanine, workers were exposed to stepping into or tripping in a hole in the floor surface exposing them to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): Each employee was not protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset was not used:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the boiler plant the 10 foot fixed platform ladder opening was not protected exposing workers to a fall hazard.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  a) On or about August 4, 2019 in the mechanical shop garage the unused portions of the blade on the Kalamazo horizontal bandsaw (Model: 818-D, Serial: 188730) were not guarded exposing workers to laceration hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not free and unobstructed. Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the community living center west (Southwest wing) an EZ Stand lift device was place and stored in the exit route obstructing the exit and exit discharge.  b) On or about September 4, 2019 in the main kitchen dining area, tables and chairs were placed in front of the exit door  obstructing the exit and exit discharge.  Notice#1, Item#2b, 29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3) as required by 29 CFR 1960.8(b): The employer failed to ensure exit routes were maintained free of obstruction. The employer was cited for a violation of the same standard on December 15, 2016, Inspection# 1160695, date January 17, 2017 of final order/settlement, and means of abatement.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, were not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top exceeded one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.):  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the pipefitting shop employees were exposed to struck-by hazards and the employer did not ensure a Dayton 2Z341P floor pedestal grinder was equipped with a tongue safety guard.  b) On or about September 4, 2019 in the painting shop employees were exposed to struck-by hazards and the employer did not ensure the tongue guard on the floor pedestal grinder was adjusted to within one-fourth inch of the abrasive wheel.  Notice#2, Item#1, 29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9) as required by 29 CFR 1960.8(b): The employer failed to ensure floor pedestal grinder was equipped with safety guard adjusted to within one-fourth inch of the wheel. The employer was cited for a violation of the same standard on December 15, 2016, Inspection# 1160695, date January 17, 2017 of final order/settlement, and means of abatement.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 outside the inventory warehouse, oxygen and fuel-gas cylinders were stored together without separation in a cage exposing workers to fire and explosion hazards.  Notice#2, Item#2, 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(i) as required by 29 CFR 1960.8(b): The employer failed to ensure oxygen cylinders were separated from fuel-gas cylinders by a minimum of 20 feet or a fire resistant barrier. The employer was cited for a violation of the same standard on December 15, 2016, Inspection# 1160695, date January 17, 2017 of final order/settlement, and means of abatement.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures were not permanent, continuous, and effective:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the boiler plant a relocatable power tap attached to a tool box was not grounded employees were exposed to electrical shock .  b) On or about September 4, 2019 on the community living center resident patio a pedestal floor fan was not grounded employees were exposed to electrical shock.  Notice#2, Item#3, 29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5) as required by 29 CFR 1960.8(b): The employer failed to ensure the path to ground on equipment was permanent, continuous, and effective. The employer was cited for a violation of the same standard on December 15, 2016, Inspection# 1160695, date January 17, 2017 of final order/settlement, and means of abatement.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees would not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel was effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 at the inventory warehouse employees were exposed to fire hazards and the employer did not ensure emergency egress routes excluded traveling toward high hazard areas such as storage of oxygen and fuel gas cylinder storage.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(5): Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit was not marked "Not an Exit" or similar designation, or was identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g., closet):  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the kitchen serving area employees were exposed to emergency egress hazards and the employer did not ensure a used dinnerware collection point was marked "Not an Exit" or similar designation.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a) On or about September 4, 2019 in the equipment shop, the refrigerator was powered by an extension cord run behind storage cabinets and plugged into a quad outlet exposing workers to electrical and fire hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2020

Abate by

Mar 6, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(i): Each employer who has a workplace in which there is a potential exposure to airborne lead at any level did not inform employees of the content of Appendices A and B of this regulation:  a) On or about October 15, 2019 employees using firearms were exposed to inorganic lead hazards and the employer did not ensure employees were informed of the contents of Appendices A and B of 1910.1025.