OSHA Inspection: CMC POLYMERS LLC

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Mar 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

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) Grinding areas: Dust accumulation was present on the ceiling components, over-head pipes and elevated horizontal surfaces around the air material separators (AMS) presenting a potential fire and deflagration hazard, on about October 31, 2022.  OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:  29 CFR  1910.141(a)(3)(i):Places of employment were not kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:  a) Grinding areas: Dust accumulation was present on the ceiling components, over-head pipes and elevated horizontal surfaces around the air material separators (AMS) presenting a potential fire and deflagration hazard, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $3,500 Reduced

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) Grinder #3 Feed Conveyor: An employee who stood upon the platform above the conveyor while loading materials was not protected from falling, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a) Grinder #1:  An employee was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 97.9 dBA, and the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, on or about October 31, 2022.   b) Grinder #4:  An employee was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 87.2 dBA, and the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, on or about October 31, 2022.   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  a) Grinder #1 Feed Conveyor: An employee who was loading the feed conveyor was exposed to small flying particles ejected from the grinder and did not wear safety glasses, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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) Grinder #3 Feed conveyor: The chain and sprockets of the lower drive of the feed conveyor were not enclosed, and exposed employees to an amputation hazard, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a) Grinding areas: Employees worked with hazardous chemicals, including, but limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not develop  a written hazard communication program, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(4)(i):  For solid metal, solid wood, or plastic items that are not exempted as articles due to their downstream use, or shipments of whole grain, the required label was not transmitted to the customer at the time of the initial shipment:  a)  Grinding areas: The employer manufactured and sold hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not appropriately label containers of hazardous chemicals that were shipped to customers, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(7): The alternative method in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers did not identify the container to which it is applicable and did not convey the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6):  a) Grinding area: Employees worked with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not ensure that these chemicals were appropriately labeled, on or about October 31, 2021.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1):  Chemical manufacturers and importers did not obtain or develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical and for each chemical that posed a hazard not otherwise classified that they produce or imported:  a) Grinding areas: Employees worked with hazardous chemicals, including, but limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical and for each chemical that posed a hazard not otherwise classified that they produce, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical:  a) Grinding areas: Employees worked with hazardous chemicals, including, but limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not maintain copies of the safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical used in the workplace, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Mar 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:   a) Grinding areas: Employees worked with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the employer did not provide these employees with effective hazard communication training, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Feb 22, 2023

Abate by

Mar 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):   a) Grinding #1: An employee was exposed to flying particulate and the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if eye hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, on or about October 31, 2022.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED