OSHA Inspection: LAMINATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Issued

Mar 16, 2023

Abate by

Jul 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $5,023 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to combustible dust explosion and deflagration hazards from the outdoor filter-media dust collector handling combustible engineered wood product dusts:  Laminate Technologies, Inc. located at 161 Maule Road in Tiffin, Ohio 44883:  On or about October 12 ,2022, employees were exposed to combustible MDF, particle board, and plywood dust explosion and deflagration propagation hazards associated with the outdoor filter-media dust collector.  The outdoor dust collector collected fugitive dust emissions from the upstream Holzma Wood CNC machines and lacked means of (1) explosion protection and (2) deflagration propagation protection (isolation). In the event of an internal dust collector deflagration, (1) employees working at workstations connected to the dust collector via dirty air collection ducts would be exposed to propagating flame front hazards, (2) employees accessing areas around the outdoor dust collector during the performance of their job duties would be exposed to explosion hazards (i.e., escaping flame front, escaping pressure wave, vessel fragmentation), and (3) employees using the emergency exit nearest the outdoor collector would be exposed to explosion hazards.

Issued

Mar 16, 2023

Abate by

Mar 29, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(2):Exit routes were not arranged so that employees would not have to travel toward a high hazard area, nor was the path of travel effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:  Laminate Technologies, Inc. located at 161 Maule Road in Tiffin, Ohio 44883:  On or about October 12, 2022 the employer did not ensure exit routes were arranged so that employees would not have to travel toward a high hazard area. Employee were exposed to fire hazards in that an emergency exit route located near the Holzma 2 saw opened outside next to an external dust collector conveying combustible wood dust without deflagration and explosion protection.

Issued

Mar 16, 2023

Abate by

Mar 29, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,036 · Current $4,018 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:  Laminate Technologies, Inc. located at 161 Maule Road in Tiffin, Ohio   On or about September 28, 2022 the employer did not ensure energy control procedures for the Biesse Skipper 100 CNC machines were documented and utilized to properly control the electrical and pneumatic energy sources before changing out tooling. Employees were exposed to caught in hazards in that the tooling selector key was not maintained in the exclusive control of the employee changing out tool bits.

Issued

Mar 16, 2023

Abate by

Mar 29, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i):The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:  Laminate Technologies, Inc. located at 161 Maule Road in Tiffin, Ohio   On or about September 28, 2022 the employer did not ensure employees were adequately trained in the lock out procedures for changing out tooling of the Biesse Skipper 100 CNC Machines. Employees were exposed to caught in hazards in that while engaged in tooling changes the machine was not maintained under the exclusive control of the operator.