OSHA Inspection: CORK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $2,400 Reduced

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 were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to combustible dust fire hazards.   Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843 - Mixing room and throughout.  On or about 11/3/2022, employees were exposed to combustible dust fire hazards during the cork mixing process.  The dust involved includes combustible cork product, PVC resin, acetone, and other such products.  Deficiencies at the company that put employees at risk for possible injuries due to combustible dust explosions include:  1)	The employer did not assess the hazards associated with dusts that are determined to be combustible or explosible.  2)	The employer did not control combustible dust hazards by following either a prescriptive approach and/or a performance-based approach.  3)	The employer did not establish written procedures for operating its facility and equipment to prevent or mitigate fires, deflagrations, and explosions from combustible particulate solids.  The employer also did not establish safe work practices.  4)	The employer did not have blueprints, drawings, or reports on the cork manufacturing system as well as the shaker house.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each employee be protected from tripping into or stepping into or through any hole that is less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above a lower level by covers or guardrail systems.  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843  On or about 11/3/2022, a floor hole in the work bench area did not have a cover or guardrail to protect employees from tripping and/or falling into the hole.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(a)(2): The employer did not provide and install all fall protection systems and falling object protection this subpart requires, and comply with the other requirements in this subpart before any employee begins work that necessitates fall or falling object protection.  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843 - Mixing room mezzanine and mezzanine stairs.  On or about 11/3/2022, and thereafter, employees were not protected from falls from height.  This includes, but is not limited to the following instances;  Instance 1 -  On or about 11/3/2022, and thereafter, employees were not protected from falls on the mixing room mezzanine where there was an incomplete guardrail near the product lift.  Instance 2 -  On or about 11/3/2022, and thereafter, employees were not protected from falls on the mixing room mezzanine where there was no guardrail on the catwalk going from the mezzanine to the mixing room mezzanine.  Instance 3 -  On or about 11/3/2022, and thereafter, employees were not protected from falls on the stairs to the mixing room mezzanine where there was no midrail.  Instance 4 -  On or about 11/3/2022, and thereafter, employees were not protected from falls on the mixing room mezzanine where there were metal chains installed guarding and were bowing in the middle.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,018 · Current $2,000 Reduced

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):  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843  On or about 11/3/2022, the employer did not conduct a workplace hazard assessment of the hazards associated with tasks such as, but not limited to, conducting the mixing process using acetone and PVC resin.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $2,100 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):  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843  On or about 11/3/2022, employees who operate powered industrial trucks (PITs) had not been trained an evaluated in safe PIT operation.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,688 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):   Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843  On or about 11/3/2022, a hazard communication program was not developed for chemicals used in the facility.  Employees use chemicals such as, but not limited to acetone and PVC resin during the mixing process and other such processes at the company.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Aug 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $376 · Current $200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(b): Areas designated as hazardous (classified) locations under the Class and Zone system and areas designated under the Class and Division system established after August 13, 2007 were not properly documented:  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843 - Mixing room and hopper area.  On or about 11/3/2022, the mixing room and the hopper area used to process Class II, Division 2 cork product was not documented as a hazardous (classified) location under either the Class and Zone or Class and Division system.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

May 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $0 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:  Location - 29 S Canal St, Lawrence, MA 01843 - Shaker house room - Baldor Box on left side of far right Shaker System.  On or about 11/3/2022, exposed electrical wires were not protected from combustible dust hazards in Class II, Division 2 locations.