OSHA Inspection: CLAY FURNITURE INDUSTRIES

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,315 · Current $4,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(6)(i):  Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:  ADHESIVE SPRAY AREA:  On or about November 5, 2021, employees sprayed Choice Brands Adhesive F-268B, a Category 2 flammable liquid, in an unmaintained spray booth.  There was no exhaust ventilation system in the area to remove flammable vapors.  Electrical installations in the area were not classified for use in hazardous locations where flammable vapors were present.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   ADHESIVE SPRAY AREA:  On or about November 5, 2021, electrical installations in the area where employees sprayed a Category 2 flammable liquid were not classified for use in hazardous locations where flammable vapors were present.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(6)(ii):Category 2 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 �F (37.8 �C) were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and container electrically interconnected.  ADHESIVE SPRAY AREA:  On or about November 5, 2021, employees sprayed Choice Adhesives Formica F-268BG onto cabinet parts in order to attach laminate.  The Category 2 Flammable Liquid (flash point 20 deg F, boiling point 134 deg F) was transferred from a pressurized tank, through a hose to a spray gun and onto wooden cabinets.  There was not continuity of ground between the tank and the nozzle.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $2,486 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(9)(iii):  Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area were not kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily:  ADHESIVE SPRAY AREAS:  On or about November 5, 2021, the booth used for spraying Choice Adhesives Formica F-268BG adhesive, a Category 2 Flammable Liquid, onto cabinets were not maintained in a manner which minimized the amount of combustible material and/or residue.  Residue was measured to be at least one-half in thick in many areas of the booth.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $2,486 · Current $2,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  On or about November 5, 2021, employees were required to wear elastomeric respirators with organic vapor cartridges and HEPA filters while spraying flammable adhesive in the Laminating Department or grinding Corian Solid Surface Material in the Corian Department.  The employer had not developed a written respiratory protection program.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  On or about November 5, 2021, employees were required to wear elastomeric respirators with organic vapor cartridges and HEPA filters while spraying flammable adhesive in the Laminating Department or grinding Corian Solid Surface Material in the Corian Department.  The employer had not provided employees with medical evaluations prior to requiring respirator use.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  On or about November 5, 2021, employees were required to wear elastomeric respirators with organic vapor cartridges and HEPA filters while spraying flammable adhesive in the Laminating Department or grinding Corian Solid Surface Material in the Corian Department.  The employer had not provided employees with fit testing prior to requiring them to wear respirators.

Issued

May 4, 2022

Abate by

Jun 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of the requirements listed in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through (k)(1)(vii).   On or about November 5, 2021, employees were required to wear elastomeric respirators with organic vapor cartridges and HEPA filters while spraying flammable adhesive in the Laminating Department or grinding Corian Solid Surface Material in the Corian Department.  The employer had not provided employees with training and information about why respirator use was required; what the respirator limitations were, proper procedures for donning, doffing, and checking the fit of the respirator; how to properly maintain and store their respirators; and/or recognition of medical signs and symptoms limiting or preventing effective use of the respirator.