OSHA Inspection: VISUAL PAK COMPANIES DBA AMERICAN BLENDING & FILLING

Issued

Aug 4, 2022

Abate by

Oct 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $72,510 · Current $37,755 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a) Production Area- On or about February 8, 2022, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts and in running nip points from the filling area of Line 15 Pacific Filling Machine when performing adjustments to the weights on the machine and cleaning up product spills.  The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machines were not shut down or turned off to perform adjustments [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)],  dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.   b) On or about February 24, 2022, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts and in running nip points from the filling area of Line 19 Pacific Filling Station Machine when performing adjustments to the weights on the machine and cleaning up product spills.  The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machines were not shut down or turned off to perform adjustments [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)],  dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.   c) On or about July 19, 2022, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts and in running nip points from the filling area of Line 17 Pacific Filling Station Machine when performing adjustments to the weights on the machine and cleaning up product spills.  The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machines were not shut down or turned off to perform adjustments [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)],  dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.   d) On or about July 26, 2022, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with pinch points from the release of stored energy on the Line 33 Tuber Machine when performing repairs and set-up.   The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machines were not isolated from all energy sources [per the 1910.147(d)(3) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.    Visual Pak Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1504158, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on April 16, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 3505 Birchwood Drive in Waukegan, Illinois.