OSHA Inspection: ELKHART PLASTICS LLC

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $12,431

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.179(j)(2): Frequent inspections of the cranes were not performed at intervals as generally defined in paragraph (j)(1)(ii)(a) of this section or as specifically indicated:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure cranes were inspected daily to prevent employee injury. The employer did not require nor train employees on the requirement of completing daily visual inspections. This exposed employees to crush and struck by hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Aug 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $6,215

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(c)(9): The employer did not require that all employees be kept clear of loads about to be lifted and of suspended loads:  a)  On or about March 11, 2022, and at times prior, an employee operating rotational mold machine #1 was observed raising a load and working under the load.  This exposed employees to crush and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $6,215

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees were not previously been trained on was introduced into their work area:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior,  employees in the foaming department were exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, Ozone, Methylene Bisphenyl Isocyanate (MDI) and Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI) while using  BASF 2 part polyurethane foam and while operating the OzoneTEC machine to treat parts with Ozone. Employees were not provided with effective information or training prior to initial assignment or prior to Ozone chemical hazards being introduced into their work area exposing employees to health hazards. Both MDI and HDI are respiratory sensitizers.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(2)(iii): Employees were not informed or trained on the location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and safety data sheets required by this section:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, employees were working with hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, Ozone, MDI, HDI, propane, Stoner Mold Release S236. However, neither the hazard communication program nor the training material included the location and availability of the hazard communication program or the location and availability of the SDSs for the chemicals in their work area as confirmed during employee interviews. This exposed employees to health hazards by not being able to access important information such as exposure symptoms and first aid information for hazardous chemicals in their work area.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,430 · Current $12,430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Flexible cords and cables were used for purposes prohibited by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, and were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, the underhung hoists in the spray foam room were plugged into extension cords that were tied together and then routed over ceiling pipes, and back down behind the curing oven where there was an available outlet in lieu of permanent wiring. This exposed employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.   b) On or about March 11, 2022, and at times prior, the air filtration system attached to the oven curing system in the spray foam room was plugged into an extension cord that was then routed to the electrical outlet in lieu of permanent wiring. This exposed employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.  Elkhart Plastics LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 1910.305(g)(1)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1514126, citation number 1 item number 2b, and was affirmed as a final order on April 5, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 8257 Blakeland Drive Littleton, CO.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.451(f)(3):Scaffolds and scaffold components were not inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift:  a) On or about March 11, 2022, and at times prior, the machine operator who was operating the rotation mold machine #1 was working on a mobile scaffold that was not inspected daily for visible defects.  This exposed employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.452(w)(2): Scaffold casters and wheels were not locked with positive wheel and/or wheel and swivel locks, or equivalent means, to prevent movement of the scaffold while the scaffold is used in a stationary manner:  a) On or about  March 11, 2022, and at times prior, a mobile ladder platform was used by an employee in front of rotational molding machine #1 and the wheel locks were broken. There was no other system in place to impede the horizontal movement of the platform. This exposed employees to fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.110(f)(2)(i): Containers in storage were not located so as to minimize exposure to excessive temperature rise, physical damage, or tampering by unauthorized persons:  a) On or about March 11, 2022, the LP cylinder was stored next to the travel way used by forklifts and was not protected or secured this exposed employees to fire, explosion and projectile hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i): The employer did not provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"):   a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, employees were given N-95 filtering facepiece respirators for voluntary use, however the employer did not provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"). This exposed employees to potential respiratory and health hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not 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 March 11, 2022, and at times prior, employees were exposed to amputation and struck by hazards as the employer did not conduct periodic lockout tagout periodic inspections on the machine-specific procedures for the rotational molding machines.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(3)(iii): Powered industrial truck operators did not receive initial training in workplace-related topics:   a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure all powered industrial truck operators received training on workplace-related topics. This exposed employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not conducted at least once every three years:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that powered industrial truck operators' performance was evaluated at least once every three years. An employee authorized to operate the forklift had not received an evaluation since June 29, 2018. Further, that evaluation was not filled out to indicate if the employee successfully completed the evaluation. This exposed employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  a) On or about February 23, 2022, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure strain relief was provided for the extension cords in the in the spray foam room exposing employees to electrical shock and fire hazards. Several extension cords in use in the foam room were tied to another cord, and no strain relief was provided.

Issued

Jul 1, 2022

Abate by

Jul 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(ii): Defective or damaged item that might expose an employee to injury, was not removed from service:  a) On or about March 11, 2022, and at times prior, an extension cord with jacket separation was in use in the spray foam room to plug in the curing oven air filter system.  This exposed employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.