OSHA Inspection: SS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS INC.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9210

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) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees generate airborne combustible dust from woodworking operations.   The employer did not ensure that the top enclosure of the spray booth was free from significant buildup of combustible wood dust.  b) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees generate airborne combustible dust from woodworking operations.   The employer did not ensure that the top enclosure of the gas-fired heating unit was free from significant buildup of combustible wood dust.  c) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees generate airborne combustible dust from woodworking operations.   The employer did not ensure that the structural wall supports of the building were free from significant buildup of combustible wood dust.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(9): A clear space of not less than 3 feet on all sides was not kept free from storage or combustible construction:  a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees were utilizing a spray booth to control paint vapors.  The employer was storing flammable stains and wood product up against the outside of the booth walls, and did not keep a clear space not less than 3 feet on all sides of the booth.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 00402037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(g)(2): All spraying areas were not kept as free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues as practical, with cleaning conducted daily if necessary:   a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees were utilizing a spray booth which had an accumulation of combustible residue on the interior walls from spray painting.  The employer did not ensure that spraying areas were kept as free as practicable of accumulations of deposits of combustible residue in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,026 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00409211

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(g)(2): The employer shall provide the education required in paragraph (g)(1) of this section upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter.  a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022,  the employer provided fire extinguishers for employees to use for incipient stage fires, and the employer did not provide education on fire extinguisher use annually as required.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  ABATEMENT NOTE: By this date the employer must either correct the alleged violation or implement a Fire Safety Policy, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and (b) which included the evacuation requirement of 29 CFR 1910.157(b).

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,026 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(2):  Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:   a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, employees were utilizing relocatable power taps (power strips), to power a bench belt/disc sander, exposing employees to fire and electrical hazard.  In addition, the relocatable power taps were not connected directly to an outlet and were being daisy chained between multiple extension cords.  The electrical equipment was not used in accordance with the listing.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  For Reference:  Underwriters Laboratories (UL), refers to power strips as Relocatable Power Taps (RPTs) and, in its "General Information for Electrical Equipment Directory" (sometimes called the UL White Book or UL Directory) contains instructions that require UL-listed RPTs to be directly connected to a permanently installed branch circuit receptacle; they are not to be series-connected to other RPTs or connected to extension cords.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Sep 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):  Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:   a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, a red extension cord was being utilized by employees to power fixed a 110 V power feeder on a Grizzly shaper,  exposing employees to fire and electrical hazards.     b) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, a yellow extension cord was being utilized by employees to power a bench belt/disc sander.  In addition, the extension cord was also being daisy chained in between 2 relocatable power taps exposing employees to fire and electrical hazards.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,036 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00409211

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) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, painters and woodworkers were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, acetone and Poplar/Alder wood dust, and the employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they used.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,009 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:   a) SS Industries - White Shanty Department - On or about November 1, 2022, a painter was required to wear a full face elastomeric respirator during stain spraying with a spray gun.  The employer did not provide the employee with training on respirators annually in accordance with this section.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(k), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1518052, citation number 1, item number 1e and was affirmed as a final order on July 6, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(k), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1, item number 16 f and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.