OSHA Inspection: RDG GROUP, INC.; BFG MANUFACTURING SERVICES, INC.; PUNXSUTAWNEY FINISHING WORKS, INC.

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,760 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1): The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, were not 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, above the walking-working surface:    A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22, tanks 4, 5, 6, 9B and 10.  Tanks contained chemicals including, but not limited to, TruBlue 2000 Chromate, Hypro Tri Yellow Chromate, Yellow N, and Hydrochloric Acid.  The open topped tank at line #22 was 9.92-feet in depth.  The area around the open topped tank was not equipped with a standard guardrail system. The top of the tank was 36-inches and was too low to function as a top rail.    B.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22 tank at the west stairs.  The catwalk was equipped with guardrail system.  The top rail height for the standard guardrail system was too low in that it was located 36.75-inches from the deck of the catwalk.  The condition exposed employees to a fall hazard of 7.25-feet into a pit surrounding the line #22 tank.    NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): The employer did not ensure that midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high:  A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were walking / working on the catwalk around the line #22 tank at the west stairs.  The catwalk was equipped with a guardrail system that did not contain an intermediate rail (mid-rail).  The lack of an intermediate rail exposed employees to a fall hazard of 7.25-feet into a pit surrounding the line #22 tank.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): 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:   A.)  RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #22, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  The floor area next to the pit around the line #22 tank was not guarded against fall hazards.  The condition exposed personnel to a fall hazard into the pit of 5-feet.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,014 · Current $3,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1): Gear(s) were not guarded by a complete enclosure or by one of the methods specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(1)(iii):    A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #21, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  A moving gear hazard was present from rotating barrels.  The gears were not physically guarded and/or guarded by location with chains or other barriers to prevent employees from accessing the danger area.  Rotating gear hazards were within 5-feet of the floor.    NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(e)(2): The wording of signs was not easily read and concise:  A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, Line #21, on or about January 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  A previously installed caution sign that provided safety instruction to warn employees of moving gear hazard from rotating barrels was defaced and could not be read.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION OR DOCUMENATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Abate by

Jul 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):    A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, on or about February 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting service and maintenance on equipment including, but not limited to, a heater core at the 20032 Zinc Rack.  The current procedures for the steam coil did not contain information including, but not limited to, (1) specific methods/techniques for dealing with stored thermal energy from the steam, and how to bring the equipment to a safe temperature, and (2) specific methods for verifying the steam system is at a safe working temperature.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED:  Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 20, 2020

Abate by

Jul 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The periodic inspection certification of energy control procedures did not contain the required documentation on identification of the machine or equipment, inspection date, employees included, and the person performing the inspection:    A.) RDG Group, Inc., BFG Manufacturing Services, Inc., Punxsutawney Finishing Works, Inc., 701 Martha Street, Punxsutawney, PA  15767, on or about February 15, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were conducting service and maintenance on equipment including, but not limited to, a heater core at the 20032 Zinc Rack.  Periodic inspections were being conducted on the lockout / tagout procedures for the equipment.  A work order was being used to certify the periodic inspections and included the equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, and the date of the inspection, but did not specify the employees included in the inspection, or the person performing the inspection.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED:  Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.