OSHA Inspection: JOHN'S DISPOSAL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $5,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1):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) On or about September 16, 2022, at the sorting conveyor, on the second level passageway that is  located under the conveyor belt and leading to the Plastic Max work area, the employer did not ensure that walkways were  kept clear and in a passable condition where waste, and recyclable materials block the passageways that lead to work areas. This creates a slip, trip and fall hazard in a primary aisleway.  (b) On or about September 16, 2022, at the sorting conveyor at and around  the second level maintenance area, the employer did not ensure that walkways and passage areas were maintained free of tripping hazards, to include  include one step work platforms and wooden boxes. This creates a trip and fall hazard in a primary walking working area.  (c) On or about September 16, 2022, at the sorting conveyor, on the second level, on the work platform for  the Control panel and lockout shut-off for the Plastic Max sorting conveyor, the service area was not kept clear and was blocked by tools, electrical cords and other obstructions. This creates a trip and fall hazard in a primary walking working area.  (d) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not ensure that walkways near the LUBO Screening area were maintained free of tripping hazards or sharp objects, and that the walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.   (e) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not ensure that walkways near the Pre-sort Screening area were maintained free of tripping hazards or sharp objects, and that these walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  (f) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not ensure that walkways in the north bale storage area were maintained free of tripping hazards or sharp objects, and that these walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  (g) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not ensure that walkways in and around the south bale storage and staging area were maintained free of tripping hazards or sharp objects, and that these walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  (h) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not ensure that walkways on the ground level around the screening platform and between the north and south bale storage areas were maintained free of tripping hazards or sharp objects, and that these walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

(c):29 CFR 1910.22(c): The employer did not provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces.  (a) On or about October 31 , 2022, and dates prior at the second level maintenance area, employees were not provided a safe means of access and egress to and from the maintenance area. Employees are required to step-over a 32 inch high belt conveyor using an elevated walkway without an adequate means to access and egress the permanent obstacle located in the walkway / work surface of the maintenance area. This exposes employees to a trip and fall and caught-in hazard.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  (a) On or about October 31, 2022, at the recycle bailer wire feed spools and platform, employees engaged in activities that include setting up and threading wire spools to feed the bailer were exposed to a fall hazard of eight(8) feet and one (1) inch onto concrete.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.   (a) On or about October 31, 2022, and dates prior, on the second floor of the sorting conveyor next to the maintenance area, employees used a  walkway going over a belt conveyor to access and egress the maintenance area, and to access other areas along the sorting conveyor.  Employees were not protected from falling into and onto the energized  belt conveyor by a guardrail system, or a travel restraint system, nor was the equipment adequately guarded or covered to prevent employee exposure to the energized conveyor.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(6)(ii): 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each employee 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above dangerous equipment must be protected from falling by one of the systems listed in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6)(ii)(A)-(D).   (a) On October 17, 2022, employees performing maintenance and/or servicing on an elevated walkway above the disposal bins below the screening area were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately eight feet onto a moving conveyor system used to transport sorted recycled products to the balers.   (b) On October 17, 2022, employees clearing refuse from an elevated walkway near the plastic screen above the conveyor line leading to the waste disposal  were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 53 inches onto a moving conveyor system used to transport waste products into a disposal bin.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $5,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":   (a) On or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the second floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that exit signs or markings were in place to show location of exit on that floor and to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.  (b)On or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the third floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that exit signs or markings were in place to show location of exit on that floor and to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(1): Each exit route was not adequately lighted so that an employee with normal vision could  see along the exit route.  (a) On or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the second floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that adequate lighting was in place to insure that employees  with normal vision could see along the exit route at all times to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.  (b) On or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the third floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that adequate lighting was in place to insure that employees  with normal vision could see along the exit route at all times to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(4): Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:  (a) O or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the second floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that signs or markings were in place to indicate the direction of travel to reach the nearest exit on that floor and to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.  ((b) On or about September 16, 2022, and dates prior on the third floor of the recyclables sorting conveyor, the employer did not insure that signs or markings were in place to indicate the direction of travel to reach the nearest exit on that floor and to guide employees to the exterior points of exit from the building.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  a) On or about September 13, 2022,  employees did not utilize lockout/tagout procedures for controlling hazardous mechanical energy, while employees performed maintenance and servicing on the Plastic Max sorter from on the machinery assembly.  This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.  (b) On or about October 4, 2022,  employees did not utilize lockout/tagout procedures for controlling hazardous mechanical energy, while employees performed maintenance and servicing on the LUBO screen sorter from inside the machinery assembly.  This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, including, but not limited to Items of this sec(a)(LOCATION)(IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATIONS AND/OR CONDITIONS)(IDENTIFY MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT)   (a) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer developed machine specific energy control procedures did not identify specific lockout points for each energy source, how to deenergize energy sources, and how each energy source is verified to be deenergized. The specific energy control procedures that did not meet required energy control elements were, but not limited to the following:   (1) The employer developed machine specific energy control procedures for the Sort and Feed Conveyor did not identify specific lockout points for each energy source, how to deenergize energy sources, and how each energy source is verified to be deenergized. This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.   (2) The employer developed machine specific energy control procedures for the IPS Baler did not identify specific lockout points for each energy source, how to deenergize energy sources, and how each energy source is verified to be deenergized. This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.  (3) The employer developed machine specific energy control procedures for the LUBO screen sorter did not identify specific lockout points for each energy source, how to deenergize energy sources, and how each energy source is verified to be deenergized. This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

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 requirement of this standard were being followed:  (a) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer did not assess the company hazardous energy control program annually to ensure machine specific energy control procedures were current, and that authorized employees were correctly implementing energy control procedures when performing maintenance and servicing work on  equipment and associated processes.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(2): The machine or equipment was not turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment:   (a) On or about September 13, 2022, on the second floor at the sorting conveyor, employees conducting maintenance and servicing on and around the energized Plastic Max conveyor did not insure the sorting conveyor and associated equipment was isolated from the energy source(s) and locked out using the machine specific energy control procedures established, during the servicing or maintenance. Specifically, energy sources did not have a lockout mechanism applied to the energy isolating devices, exposing employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.   (b) On or about October 4, 2022, employees conducting maintenance and servicing work on the LUBO screen sorter from inside the machinery, did not utilize lockout/tagout procedures for controlling hazardous mechanical energy. Specifically, energy sources did not have a lockout mechanism applied to the energy isolating devices, exposing employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.   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.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:  (a)  On or about October 4, 2022, and dates prior, the employer did not train employees on the employer developed energy control program and associated machine specific energy control procedures to ensure employees were knowledgeable on how to identify specific lockout points for each energy source, how to deenergize energy sources,  how each energy source is verified to be deenergized, and how to reenergize equipment and processes once work is completed.  This exposed employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):  (a) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer failed to ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely in the bale storage area, exposing employees to struck-by and crushing hazards.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

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 being conducted at least once every three years:  (a) On or about October 4, 2022, the employer failed to evaluate the performance of each powered industrial truck operator in the bale storage area every three years.  Last evaluation of current forklift truck operator's performance was in 2014.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  (a) On October 4, 2022, the employer did not provide written certifications that forklift operators had been trained and evaluated prior to operation of the forklift trucks.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(m)(5)(i): When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means were not fully lowered, controls were not neutralized, power was not shut off, and brakes set.  (a) On or about October 17, 2022, an operator in the south bale storage area left a Toyota Forklift truck unattended without first fully lowering the tines, which were raised approximately 18 inches off the ground, and not turning off the power to the forklift for at least 12 minutes while going to another area of the facility that was not in view of the forklift.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  a) On or about September 16, 2022, on the second floor of the sorting conveyor and under the conveyor belt return, employees were exposed to a stuck-by, caught-in, and caught between hazard when walking under the unguarded horizontal belt and conveyor pulley assembly, that was located approximately five (5) feet 10 inches above the floor.  b) On or about September 16, 2022, on the first floor of the sorting conveyor and under the conveyor belt return, employees were exposed to a stuck-by, caught-in, and caught between hazard when walking under the unguarded horizontal belt and conveyor pulley assembly that was approximately five (5) feet, ten 10 inches above the floor.  c) On or about September 16, 2022, on the second floor of the sorting conveyor across from access stairway, the conveyor belt and conveyor pulley assembly were not guarded exposing employees to a stuck-by, caught-in, and caught between hazard when walking and working at or around the unguarded horizontal belt and conveyor pulley assembly that was approximately thirty-two (32) inches above the work platform.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:(a)   (a) On or about September 13, 2022, on the second floor of the sorting conveyor at the Plastic Max conveyor  line, adequate machine guarding was not provided to protect employees working at or around the dodge drive to include its energized and exposed rotating shaft end that was operating without adequate guarding in place. This exposed the employee to a caught -on and caught-in hazard. This exposed employees to an amputation hazard.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Feb 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  a) On or about October 31, 2022, on the ground floor of the facility at the Bailer, employees were exposed to eleven sprockets with chain drive that were not guarded, exposing the employees to an amputation hazard.  b) On or about October 31, 2022, on the ground floor of the facility at the Southeast corner of the sorting conveyor, an energized sprocket and chain drive located approximately two (2) feet from the floor was not guarded, exposing the employees to a caught-on and amputation hazard.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) On or about October 4, 2022, a Toyota forklift truck was modified with a cut tractor tire equipped to the bottom of the tines for the purposes of clearing waste refuse from the ground as a sweeper. This modification potentially affects the safe operation of the powered industrial truck and was performed without the manufacturer's prior written approval.

Issued

Feb 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(ii): There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service:  (a) On or about October 31, 2022, at the Tool Shop brand pedestal mounted  bench grinder located on the second floor of the sorting conveyor in the maintenance area, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazard  in-that the electrical cord insulation was was pulled away from the plug exposing the secondary electrical wire insulation.