OSHA Inspection: BENCHMARK INDUSTRIAL, INC.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,622 · Current $1,311 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d):  Hazard assessment and equipment selection.  29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the  950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace; the employer failed to perform, document and certify  the workplace hazard assessment required by this part. Due to this condition, employees were not provided and required to use personal protective equipment to protect against chemical hazards. Employees perform required duties that included forklift battery maintenance which involved potential exposure to splashed battery acid.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the  950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace; the employer failed to require and ensure the use of face and eye protection to protect against chemical liquid hazards such as battery acid. Employees perform required duties that included forklift battery maintenance which involved potential exposure to splashed battery acid.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a):General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.  a.  On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace; the employer failed to select and require the use of appropriate hand protection to protect against chemical hazards of skin absorption and chemical burns from chemical contact. Employees perform required duties that included forklift battery maintenance which involved potential exposure to splashed battery acid.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,622 · Current $1,311 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(f)(1):  The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE. Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:  (i)  When PPE is necessary; (ii)  What PPE is necessary; (iii)  How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE; (iv)  The limitations of the PPE; and, (v)  The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace; the employer failed to perform training for each employee who performed forklift battery maintenance activities. Employees performed required duties, such as battery charging and battery fluid replacement on  a regular basis. During these activities, employees have potential exposure to splashing and contact hazards associated with battery acid.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a.  On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace; the employer failed to perform training for each employee who performed forklift battery maintenance activities. Employees performed required duties, such as battery charging and battery fluid replacement on a regular basis. During these activities, employees have potential exposure to splashing and contact hazards associated with battery acid.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,622 · Current $1,311 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1):  Operator training. Safe operation.  29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i):  The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace: Forklifts were operated on a daily basis by drivers who had not received training and evaluation as specified by this part.  Due to this condition, employees were at increased risk for injury related to collision with property and for pedestrians involved in a potential struck-by accident involving these forklifts.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,622 · Current $1,311 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(n):  Traveling. 29 CFR  1910.178(n)(4):The driver shall be required to slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed. If the load being carried obstructs forward view, the driver shall be required to travel with the load trailing.  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace: powered industrial truck drivers were not required to, and could not, sound the horn at cross aisles or other locations were vision is obstructed, such as the overhead door intersection between buildings 1 and buildings 2. Powered industrial truck drivers could not sound the horn on  two forklifts, a Yale forklift (serial number E187V16577Y) and a Clark forklift (serial number TMG248-0203-7482FB) due to the forklift horns being inoperable. Due to this condition, employees were at increased risk for injury related to collision with property and for pedestrians involved in a potential struck-by accident involving these forklifts.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(1):Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition shall be removed from service. All repairs shall be made by authorized personnel.  a.  On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace:   Forklifts were operated with non-functional horns. The Yale forklift (serial number E187V16577Y) and a Clark forklift (serial number TMG248-0203-7482FB) were operated on a daily basis forklift horns being inoperable. Due to this condition, employees were at increased risk for injury related to collision with property and for pedestrians involved in a potential struck-by accident involving these forklifts.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(6):Industrial trucks shall not be altered so that the relative positions of the various parts are different from what they were when originally received from the manufacturer, nor shall they be altered either by the addition of extra parts not provided by the manufacturer or by the elimination of any parts, except as provided in paragraph (q)(12) of this section. Additional counterweighting of fork trucks shall not be done unless approved by the truck manufacturer.  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace;  the employer operated an altered powered industrial truck with the addition of additional parts not provided by the manufacturer. A Yale forklift (serial number E187V16577Y) had a makeshift wire added in attempt to "jury rig" operation of the manufacturer installed horn. This wire was intended to contact the metal armrest to initiate and sound the horn.  The manufacturer designed and installed horn actuation was designed for depressing the horn mounted onto the center of the steering wheel. Due to this condition, employees were at increased risk for injury related to collision with property and for pedestrians involved in a potential struck-by accident involving this forklift.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Abate by

Jan 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(7):Industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they shall be examined after each shift. Defects when found shall be immediately reported and corrected.  a. On or about September 10, 2020 for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna Ohio workplace:  the employer had not implemented and required daily examination of powered industrial trucks to identify conditions that adversely affect the operational safety of the vehicle, such as but not limited to operability of warning devices (horns.) Employees operated forklifts and lift trucks on a daily basis in the warehouse operations. Failure to identify unsafe conditions during daily examination of powered industrial trucks increases the risk accident related injury for operators and pedestrian employees in the warehouse.

Issued

Dec 11, 2020

Abate by

Jan 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2310

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:  a. On or about September 10, 2020, for the 950 Claycraft Road, Gahanna, Ohio workplace; the employer had not established a written hazard communication program, to include the list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace described in subparagraph (e)(1)(i),  for  hazardous chemicals the employer distributes and for the hazardous chemicals utilized by employees in the workplace.