OSHA Inspection: ACME PLASTICS OF NEW JERSEY, INC.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Abate by

Aug 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $4,390 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a) Production Area: An employee engaged in smoothing out the edges on plastic panels, on a Delta (Model DJ-30) routing machine, was exposed to a continuous noise level at 73.3% of the allowable 8-hour time weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 73.3% is approximately  87.7dBA. The sampling was performed during 467 minutes during one work shift and zero time was given for 13 minutes of time not sampled. The employer did not administer a continuing effective hearing conservation program, thus exposing employees to irreversible hearing loss, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:   a) Production Area: The employer did not develop and implement a noise monitoring program to determine occupational exposure to noise, thus exposing employees to irreversible hearing loss, on or about, 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Abate by

Aug 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) Production Area: An employee engaged in smoothing out the edges on plastic panels, on a Delta (Model DJ-30) routing machine, was exposed to a continuous noise level at 73.3% of the allowable 8-hour time weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 73.3% is approximately  87.7dBA. The sampling was performed during 467 minutes during one work shift and zero time was given for 13 minutes of time not sampled. The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for affected employees, thus exposing employees to irreversible hearing loss, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Abate by

Aug 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  a) Production Area: An employee engaged in smoothing out the edges on plastic panels, on a Delta (Model DJ-30) routing machine, was exposed to a continuous noise level at 73.3% of the allowable 8-hour time weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 73.3% is approximately  87.7dBA. The sampling was performed during 467 minutes during one work shift and zero time was given for 13 minutes of time not sampled. The employer did not conduct noise training to affected employees, exposed to noise levels exceeding an 8-hour time weighted average of 85dBA, thus exposing employees to irreversible hearing loss, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,940 · Current $4,511 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:  a) Freight Elevator Area: Oxygen and hydrogen compressed gas cylinders were stored together. The employer did not ensure that compressed fuel gas cylinders were separated from oxygen cylinders, as per Section 6.4.3 of the Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-2015, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,940 · Current $4,858 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(9): A clear space of not less than 3 feet on all sides was not kept free from storage or combustible construction:  a) Spray Finishing: Combustible material, such as, but not limited to, boxes and corrugated material, were stored on top and along the sides of the Global spray finishing booth. The employer did not ensure that the spray finishing booth space was kept free from storage of combustible material, by less than three feet on all sides, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Abate by

Aug 3, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,940 · Current $4,511 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(5): The use of solvents for cleaning operations was not restricted to those having flashpoints not less than 100F.:  a) Spray Finishing: An employee engaged in spray finishing operations is required to use M.L. Campbell wash thinner, with a flashpoint of 21.2 degrees Fahrenheit, to clean spray guns. The employer did not ensure that the wash thinner used for cleaning operations, was restricted to a flashpoint not less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, on or about 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $5,639 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  a) Plant-Wide: Employees are required to perform servicing and/or maintenance on equipment/machinery, including, but not limited to, Schelling saw, cardboard baler, Hendrick Pro Am saw, trash compactor and Thornwood 2 head/Thermwood single head CNC routers. The employer did not establish a written lockout/tagout program, consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections, thus exposing employees to an amputation and electrical shock hazards, on or about 2/11/20 and 3/11/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,205 · Current $3,383 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:  a) Facility-Wide: Employees designated to use fire extinguishers to extinguish insipient stage fires had not completed fire extinguisher training to familiarize themselves with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved. The employer did not ensure that affected employees completed an educational program to familiarize them with the general principles involved in using a fire extinguisher, on or about 2/11/20 and 3/11/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,940 · Current $4,511 Reduced

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:  a) Machine Shop: The employer did not ensure that machinery, including, but not limited to, Delta drill press and a Walker Turner drill press, were securely anchored to the floor, on or about 2/11/20 and 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $5,639 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  Plant-Wide: Employees are required to work with hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, compressed gas cylinders (oxygen, hydrogen), wash thinner, Polarion interior 2K polyurethane white satin, PS3 reducer, and Polarion catalyst 5:1. The employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program, thus exposing employees to chemical hazards, on or about 2/11/20 and 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  Plant-Wide: Employees are required to work with hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, compressed gas cylinders (oxygen, hydrogen), wash thinner, Polarion interior 2K polyurethane white satin, PS3 reducer, and Polarion catalyst 5:1. The employer did not provide affected employees with effective information and training on the safe methods of handling and working with hazardous chemicals, prior to initial assignment, thus exposing employees to chemical hazards, on or about 2/11/20 and 3/3/20.

Issued

Jul 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:   a) Spray Finishing: An employee voluntarily wears a 3M half mask dual cartridge respirator, while conducting spray finishing operations. The employer did not provide information contained in Appendix D of the respirator standard, for affected employees, on or about, 2/11/20 and 3/11/20.