OSHA Inspection: M. CHASEN & SONS, INC.

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances M102

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) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer directs employees to process clothing and cardboard with cutters, mills, blend boxes, and condensers into paper and cloth insulating pads as a final product.  This process creates clothing fibers and paper dust that accumulates throughout the facility, including in and around the condenser for the paper airlay machine input, clothinging shredding machine, and clothing shredding machine dust collectors.  The clothing and paper dust is combustible exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.   Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(3)(i):  A procedure was not utilized to afford the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device when servicing and/or maintenance was performed by a crew:  The employer requires employees to remove  shredded paper material from  underneath  the drawing arms with rotating blades a Fiber Control Snow Maker machine.  Two employees performed this operation together, however only one of the employees attached a lock to the switch of the machine in the off position.  Violation occurred on or about May 20, 2022

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(i):  Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):  Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  a) A 120 Volt control circuitry box that powers and controls the paper pad product strapping machine was open and could not close, because of the installation of a switch that prevented the cover's closure.   This exposed the workers nearby to the hazard of exposed 120 Volt conductors inside of this equipment.   b)  A 480 Volt emergency stop enclosure switch and a 480 Volt circuit breaker panel that power the backup compressor in the south backup compressor room  were not enclosed with covers.  This room is open and accessible to any employees who work in the facility.  Violation occurred on or about May 20, 2022

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St., Irvington, NJ  Two Junction boxes with 120 Volt 15 Amp wiring that powered lighting did not have covers and had exposed wiring conductors.   Violation occurred on or about May 20 , 2022

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):  Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  a) The employer used a flexible extension cord as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure, that ran up to the ceiling, wrapped around overhead piping,  and back down to the ground level to power a grinder.  b)  The employer used a flexible extension cord as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure, that was plugged into an outlet mounted on the clothes shredding area column, and  plugged into a three way connector to power a second flexible extension cord placed immediately in front of open juncture boxes, to power an electric clock over a adjacent bay door.   Violations occurred on or about May 20, 2022

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.333(b)(2):  While an employee was exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which were deenergized, the circuits energizing the parts were not locked out or tagged or both in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (b) of 29 CFR 1910.333(b)(2):  a) Workplace,  123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  An employee performed a timer switch repair replacement on a 480 Volt control box  that powered the hammermill machine that shreds cardboard into paper particulate.   The employee did not apply a lock or tag onto the circuit breaker switch that powered the hammermill machine, after switching it in the off position.  The hammermill panel and circuit breaker switch is on the opposite end of the facility from the hammermill machine and 480 Volt control box.  Violation occurred on or about May 25, 2022

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):   a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to chemicals including but  not limited to Safety Kleen parts washer petroleum distillates, grease/oil used to lubricate machines and motors,  and airborne particulates (cardboard dust and clothing fibers).    Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1):  Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use    a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer did not maintain safety data sheets for employees working with chemicals to include but not limited to Safety Kleen parts washer petroleum distillates, grease/oil used to lubricate machines and motors,  and airborne particulates (cardboard dust and clothing fibers).    Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(2)(iii):  The employer did not provide information to the employees as to the location and availability of the written hazard communication program, and material safety data sheets required by 29 CFR 1910.1200:  a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer did not train employees on the location and availability of the the written hazard communication program and safety data sheets for workers exposed to chemicals including but not limited to Safety Kleen parts washer petroleum distillates,  grease/oil used to lubricate machines and motors,  and airborne particulates (cardboard dust and clothing fibers).    Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii):  Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer did not train employees on the hazards of the chemicals they work with to include but not limited to Safety Kleen parts washer petroleum distillates, grease/oil used to lubricate machines and motors, and airborne particulates (cardboard dust and clothing fibers).  Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i):  Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer directs employees to process clothing and cardboard with cutters, mills, blend boxes, and condensers into paper and cloth insulating pads as a final product.  This process creates clothing fibers and dust, and paper dust,  that become airborne.   Employees were provided with Ranksing ST-AX filtering facepieces for voluntary use, however such workers were not provided Appendix D information.     Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021

Issued

Jun 21, 2022

Abate by

Jul 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  a) Workplace, 123 South 20th St. Irvington, NJ  The employer directs employees to process clothing and cardboard with cutters, mills, blend boxes, and condensers into paper and cloth insulating pads as a final product.  This process creates clothing fibers and dust, and paper dust,  that become airborne.   Two employees purchased and use  their own 3M  1/2 mask elastomeric respirator.  The employer failed to implement elements of a  respiratory protection program that included a medical evaluation to ensure the employee could safely use it, and elements of that program  however were not provided information in Appendix D.    Violation occurred on or about December 22, 2021