OSHA Inspection: THE WASSERSTROM COMPANY

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,778 · Current $4,389 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): Surface conditions. The employer must ensure all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, in Suites B and C, passageways and walking-working surfaces were not kept in a clean and orderly condition due to scrap racking materials, cardboard boxes, pallets, equipment, trash, and/or other debris items which were stored and/or staged in working areas and on the floor exposing employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,953 · Current $4,477 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3):Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior,  the emergency exit route leading to exit door number 5, located in building 3 (Suite C) was not free and/or unobstructed from a build-up of cardboard, equipment, pallets  and other items which were stored/staged in the area in and around the emergency exit route and door obstructing entry/exit into and out of the area in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $6,144 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.   a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspections of the energy control procedures and employees utilizing hazardous energy control to ensure that the procedures were adequate and were being utilized correctly. Employees perform servicing and maintenance on warehouse equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury. The following condition exposes employees to caught-in/struck-by hazards.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $6,144 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall 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 and control.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not provide training on the energy control program and procedures to be used by employees who performed servicing  and maintenance on equipment such as, but not limited to, the Mac Corp self-contained trash compactor.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $6,144 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(c)(1):The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located near stock chaser #6 charging station in Suite C was obstructed by equipment and wooden debris The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   b. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. Two portable fire extinguishers located along the back (north) wall in Suite C, were obstructed by extra/scrap racking materials. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   c.  On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located in Suite C, near emergency exit door 5 was obstructed by equipment, boxes and extra/scrap racking materials. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   d. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located near dock bay door 85, was obstructed by wooden pallets, metal lockers and other debris. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   e. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located between dock bay doors 77 and 78 was obstructed by extra/scrap wooden pallets and a garbage can. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   f. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located in the back (north) parcel packing area was obstructed by shelving, boxes construction materials and ladders. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   g. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were readily accessible to employees for use in event of a fire. A portable fire extinguisher located in the front (south) parcel packing area was obstructed by equipment, racks, and tables. The following condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,778 · Current $4,389 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.  a. On or about April 20, 2021, and at times prior,  the employer did not ensure that each employee who operated powered industrial equipment in the workplace received an evaluation at least every three years. The following condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $6,144 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that machine guarding was provided to protect employees from caught-in hazards created by the point of operation of the Mac Corp self-contained trash compactor. A magnet was used to by-pass a damaged magnetic safety device/latch on trash compactor door/gate 39.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,461 · Current $3,731 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(7)(i):Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, located in suite C, near the battery charging station, the employer did not ensure that unused openings in circuit breaker boxes were effectively closed at locations of circuit breakers 1,3,5,7,9,11 and 2,4,6,8,10,12 in General Electric A-Series II panelboard number AXB7, thereby exposing employees to a 480 volt electrical contact hazard.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(g)(3):The employer shall provide employees who have been designated to use fire fighting equipment as part of an emergency action plan with training in the use of the appropriate equipment.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, designated employees were not provided with training on the use of portable fire extinguishers they were required to use in the event of an emergency. The following condition exposed designated employees to hazards associated with being unfamiliar with portable fire extinguishers.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Abate by

Oct 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(g)(4):The employer shall provide the training required in paragraph (g)(3) of this section upon initial assignment to the designated group of employees and at least annually thereafter.   a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, designated employees were not provided with initial training or annual training thereafter on the use of portable fire extinguishers they were required to use in the event of an emergency. The following condition exposed designated employees to hazards associated with being unfamiliar with portable fire extinguishers.

Issued

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1):Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.  a. On or about April 20, 2021 and at times prior, located in Suite C, near stock chaser number 6 charging station, the employer did not ensure there was sufficient access to electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of electrical panels, thereby exposing employees to electrical shock, machine hazards and fire.