OSHA Inspection: HPPE LLC

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $4,206 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees from struck-by hazards.   a) Raw Materials Warehouse: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that the storage rack located closest to the garage door of the Raw Materials Warehouse had bent and damaged supports. Employees operated powered industrial trucks around the racks to store and retrieve materials, including chemical totes and drums.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $4,206 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.   a) Administrative Building, Cold Storage Room: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire and trip hazards in that the area between the closet and the exit door in the Cold Storage Room is obstructed by storage containers as employees retrieve laboratory equipment from the area.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,510 · Current $5,757 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(2):Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained, so far as possible, in a dry condition.  Drainage was not maintained where wet process(es) were in use:  a) Clean Room, Production Area: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to slip hazards in that drainage was not maintained to control the accumulation of water from wet processes used in the production of biopolymer chemicals.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(3):Walking-working surfaces were not maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice:  a) M5 Building, Second Level: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to trip hazards in that hoses connected to chemical vessels were placed on the floors in areas of travel.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $4,706 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, 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 is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a) Control Room: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to falls of approximately 8 feet in that the platform above the M1 tank is not guarded on all sides as employees use it to access the top of the tank.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,510 · Current $5,757 Reduced

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) Wastewater Treatment Pits: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that a section of the guardrail bordering the wastewater treatment pits was missing a midrail. Employees go up to the treatment pits to monitor the pH levels of the water.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,510 · Current $5,757 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.30(a)(1):The employer did not provide training for each employee who used personal fall protection systems or who was required to be trained as specified elsewhere in this subpart before the employees were exposed to a fall hazard.  a) Tank Farms: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to falls of approximately 20 feet in that the employer did not provide training on the use of personal fall arrest systems to employees who are required to use such systems while measuring the volume of the contents of the large tank vessels.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $4,706 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(d)(1):Employee(s) were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:  a) Quality Control (QC) Laboratory: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the emergency exit door in the Quality Control Laboratory is kept locked as employees work in the area to produce or manage chemical samples.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

May 20, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,011 · Current $6,844 Reduced

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 be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g. closet):  a) Control Room: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that a door leading out onto an enclosed balcony behind the M1 tank is not marked to indicate that it is not a viable exit.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(6):Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:  a) Administration Building, Front Entrance: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the exit sign over the emergency exit door near the front entrance of the Administration Building was not illuminated as employees worked in the area.  b) Clean Room, North Wall: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the exit sign over an emergency exit door in the Clean Room was not illuminated as employees worked in the area.   c) Maintenance Shop: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the exit sign over the emergency exit door at the rear of the Maintenance Shop was not illuminated as employees worked in the area.  d) Microbiology Lab: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the exit sign on the emergency exit door in the Microbiology Lab was not illuminated as employees worked in the area.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(7):Each exit sign did not have the word "Exit" in plainly legible letters not less than six inches (15.2 cm) high, with the principal strokes of the letters in the word "Exit" not less than three fourths of an inch (1.9 cm) wide:  a) Clean Room, North Wall: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that the exit sign over the emergency exit door in the Clean Room did not have the word "exit" in lettering that was equal to or greater than 6 inches in height.  b) Microbiology Lab: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire hazards in that an exit sign affixed to the door at the back of the Microbiology Lab  did not have the word "exit" in lettering that was equal to or greater than 6 inches in height.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,513 · Current $7,859 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.  a) Production Departments: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not develop specific energy control procedures for facility equipment including but not limited to electrical panels and pressure vessels.  Maintenance employees perform repair work and re-wiring  on facility equipment.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation.   a) Production Departments: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not provide training to employees on the energy control procedures necessary to isolate the energy sources of machinery and equipment in the facility including but limited to electrical panels and pressure vessels. Maintenance employees perform repair work and re-wiring on facility equipment.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $4,206 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(ii):The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck  a) Production Departments: On November 13, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that the employer did not provide training to all employees who operated powered industrial vehicles to transport chemical containers and equipment.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,008 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(d):Damaged or defective sling(s) were not immediately removed from service:  a) Maintenance Shop: On November 18, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that slings with cut and frayed webbing were used to lift equipment for maintenance and were not removed from service.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,510 · Current $5,757 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(f)(2):Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:  a) Clean Room: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not ensure that the circuits of the Square D electrical panels "3500" and "3700" were marked to indicate the purposes of each switch.   b) Wastewater Treatment Building: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not ensure that the circuits of the electrical panel near the entrance were marked to indicate the purposes of each switch.   c) Control Room, Main Office: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not ensure that the circuits of the Square D electrical panel were marked to indicate the purposes of each switch.

Issued

May 10, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,510 · Current $5,427 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(1)(ii):Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  a) Clean Room: On November 12, 2020, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical shock hazards in that the employer did not ensure that unused openings in the Square D electrical panel labeled "3500" in the Clean Room were effectively filled or closed.