OSHA Inspection: INNOVATIVE GROWERS EQUIPMENT, INC.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by a standard guardrail system: Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.     Employees were exposed to falls from heights of 4 feet or more as follows:     On or about September 25, 2019, an employee was elevated on a the forks of a powered industrial truck to access a natural gas shut-off switch. Employees were exposed to falls of approximately 9' 6" to the ground below.     Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 28, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,956 · Current $4,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable: 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix).    On or about October 16, 2019, the employer failed to establish and implement a written respiratory program when employees are required to wear respiratory protection. Employees in the painting areas and welding booths were required to wear half-face particulate respirators while performing painting and welding operations without having an established written respiratory program.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  On or about October 16, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees who were required to wear respirators were medically evaluated to prevent employee injury. Employees in the painting areas and welding booths were required to wear half-face particulate respirators while performing painting and welding operations without receiving a medically evaluation.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  On or about October 16, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees who were required to wear respirators were fit tested to prevent employee injury. Employees in the painting areas and welding booths were required to wear half-face particulate respirators while performing painting and welding operations without having been fit tested.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): Training and information. This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary:  29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in (i)-(vii):  On or about October 16, 2019, the employer failed to provide respirator training to employees who were required to wear respiratory protection. Employees in the painting areas and welding booths were required to wear half-face particulate respirators while performing painting and welding operations without receiving training.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(3): Unauthorized personnel shall not be permitted to ride on powered industrial trucks. A safe place to ride shall be provided where riding of trucks is authorized.    On or about October 10, 2019, several employees were moving a robotic welder and rode on the back of the forklift to act as a counterbalance and to keep the rear wheels on the ground, while the forklift was moving. This exposed employees to falling and struck-by hazards.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(o)(2): Only loads within the rated capacity of the truck shall be handled.  On or about October 10, 2019, loads were being handled that exceeding the rated capacity of the industrial truck. Employees were using a Hyster forklift in the warehouse to transport a Miller Robotic Arc Welding System. The rated capacity of the Hyster powered industrial truck was 6700 pounds at a 24 inch load center. The Miller PA 550HW Robotic Welding System weighs 8800 pounds and exposed employees to struck-by hazards.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Jan 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): The employer shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check. Stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination. The employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. The record shall be available to the Assistant Secretary upon request.  On or about October 16, 2019, the employer did not ensure all portable fire extinguishers were subjected to an annual maintenance check. In the spray painting area, a portable fire extinguisher provided for use was not subjected to an annual maintenance check.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).