OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN BILTRITE, INC.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2)(ii): The emergency response plan did not address, to the extent not addressed elsewhere, personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility's integrated contingency plan does not include provisions for training for employees and/or personnel designated Incident Commanders under the plan.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2)(v): The emergency response plan did not address, to the extent not addressed elsewhere, site security and control:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021,  the facility's integrated contingency plan does not designate equipment, people, and procedures to ensure site security and control during emergency response operations for releases of, or substantial threats of releases of, hazardous substances.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.120(q)(6)(ii): First responders at the operational level did not receive at least eight hours of training or did not have sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the areas required by 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)(A) through (q)(6)(ii)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, employees assigned First Responder - Operations level duties and responsibilities under the facility's integrated contingency plan have not received HAZWOPER training commensurate with these duties and responsibilities.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.120(q)(6)(v): Incident commanders did not receive at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency in the areas outline in 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(v)(A) through (q)(6)(v)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, employees assigned Incident Commander duties and responsibilities under the facility's integrated contingency plan have not received HAZWOPER training commensurate with these duties and responsibilities.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.124(j)(1)(i): Hoods and ductwork of the ventilation system were not inspected for corrosion or damage at least quarterly during operation:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility does not inspect the hoods and ductwork of the ventilation system serving the #6 and #9 Coating Head production lines for corrosion or damage.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.124(j)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure airflow was adequate at least quarterly during operation:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility does not ensure the airflow of the ventilation system serving the #6 and #9 Coating Head production lines is adequate at least quarterly during operation.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Jan 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.125(d)(2): Conveyor system used with a dip tank would not shut down automatically if the ventilation rate dropped below what was required by paragraph (b) of section 1910.124:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021,  the #6 and #9 Coating Head production lines do not shut down automatically if the ventilation system fails.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(5): The powered industrial truck was equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, however the employer did not request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility's Yale forklifts are used with an Liftomatic Model FTA Drum Handling Attachment and the forklifts have not been marked to identify the attachment and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with the load laterally centered.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Jul 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(c)(2)(iii): Only approved power-operated industrial trucks designated as EX were not used in atmospheres containing any of the chemicals referenced in this section in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, or where such concentrations of flammable gases or vapors existed continuously, intermittently, or periodically under normal operating conditions, or may have existed frequently because of repair, maintenance operations, leakage, breakdown or faulty operation of equipment:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA (Churn Room):  On or about June 28, 2021, the Yale forklifts, EE designated power-operated industrial trucks, were permitted to be operated in areas where solids are charged to reactors during a flammable solvent based adhesive manufacturing process and where drum mixing of flammable solvent based adhesives is conducted.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $19,311 · Current $9,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.120(q)(8)(i): Employees who were trained in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6) did not receive annual refresher training of sufficient content and duration to maintain their competencies or did not demonstrate competency in those areas at least yearly:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the members of the emergency response team have not received refresher training to maintain their competency as operational level first responders within the past year.  American Biltrite, Inc.  was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(8)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1139490, citation number 1,  item number 11, and was affirmed as a final order on September 27, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA 01851.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $19,311 · Current $9,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:  a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility's Yale forklifts are used with an Liftomatic Model FTA Drum Handling Attachment and the employer has not received approval from the manufacturers of these forklifts for the use of the attachment.  American Biltrite, Inc.  was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1216522, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on August 30, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 Whittendale Drive, Moorestown, NJ 08057.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,084 · Current $500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2460

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:  (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility's hazard communication program does not address the means and methods utilized by the employer to label stationary process containers.

Issued

Sep 30, 2021

Abate by

Nov 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1)(ii): The written hazard communication program did not include the methods the employer would use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, and the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in their work areas:   (a) Location - 1400 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA:  On or about June 28, 2021, the facility's hazard communication program does not address how the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes will be communicated to employees.