OSHA Inspection: RUPE INDUSTRIES, LLC

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

May 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section (5)(a)(1):  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 due to fire, burn, and deflagration hazards associated with combustible dust:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, main assembly building, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire, burn, and deflagration hazards from cyclones, and their associated duct work, that was not equipped with devices and systems to prevent the propagation of deflagration and associated flame fronts from the cyclone through the associated duct work and back into the building and to the dust collection bin.  The cyclones processed combustible wood dust.  B.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, main assembly building, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and burn hazards from cyclones, and their associated duct work, that was not equipped with devices and systems to detect and suppress fires, sparks and embers within the cyclones and their ductwork.  The cyclones processed combustible wood dust.  C.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, main assembly building/dust collection bin area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and burn hazards associated the operation of a gasoline-powered front-end loader in the dust collection bin.  The front-end loader was used to scoop and move the combustible wood dust.  Dust clouds were present in the air.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Dec 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c):  Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, main assembly building/dust collection bin area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Electrical devices powering equipment including, but not limited to, pneumatic conveyers (blowers) were located in an environment with combustible dust.  The electrical devices was not classified for a Class II environment.  These electrical devices included, but were not limited to, a 480-volt electrical disconnect.   B.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Accumulations of combustible dust were on the surfaces of electrical equipment including, but not limited to, flexible cords/cord cap and electrical receptacle boxes/cover plates.  The electrical devices were not classified for a Class II environment.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Oct 27, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, main assembly building/dust collection bin area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards associated with combustible dust that had accumulated on surfaces including, but not limited to, walls, beams, shelves, and ledges.  The dust accumulation ranged from 1/8-inch to in excess of 12-inches.   B.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to fire and explosion hazards associated with combustible dust that had accumulated on surfaces including, but not limited to, electrical receptacles/cover plates and flexible cords/cord caps.  The dust accumulation were in excess of 1/8-inch.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Oct 27, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2):  The employer did not ensure that the  floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees were potentially exposed to explosion hazards associated with combustible dust that had accumulated on the floor around the Dustek enclosureless dust collection system and Delta radial arm saw.  The dust accumulation ranged from 1/8-inch to in excess of 3-inches.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Oct 27, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii):  There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  A flexible electrical extension cord was powering equipment including, but not limited to,  an Autoquip Series 35 lift table.  The flexible electrical extension cord was frayed at the cord cap.  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

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Oct 27, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7):  Electric equipment was not installed in a neat and workmanlike manner:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Electrical boxes were equipped with cover plates.  The cover plates were installed without all screws creating openings that could cause combustible dust to enter into the electrical box and interact with live electrical components.  B.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Two flexible cords were sliced together at the cord cap and were secured with electrical tape.  The cord cap was plugged into a 3-phase, 240-volt receptacle.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Oct 27, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1):  Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:  A.)  Rupe Industries, LLC dba Johnson Industries Pallets, 6774 Orangeville Road, Sharpsville, PA  16150, warehouse area, on or about April 7, 2021 and times prior thereto:  Employees are provided with, and permitted to use, portable fire extinguishers.  Access to a Badger portable dry chemical fire extinguisher (M/N:  B20M, S/N:  VZ-960512) was obstructed by woodworking machinery including, but not limited to, a Whirlwind cut-off saw.  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.