OSHA Inspection: MULHERN BELTING, INC.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(g)(2): An exit access must be at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points. Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access.  a) Warehouse, near overhead door: On or about December 28, 2022, employees worked in the area where an access to an Exit Door was constricted to about 24 inches wide.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not kept free and unobstructed:  a) Warehouse, near the slitter machine: On or about December 28, 2022, employees worked in the area where an Exit Door was obstructed with pallets of materials, rolls of belting material and other items.  b) Warehouse, near CNC machine: On or about December 28, 2022, employees worked in the area where an Exit Door was obstructed with a cart, a hose and other items.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.101(b): "Compressed gases." The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.  a) Warehouse, slitter machine area exit door: On or about December 28, 2022, employees worked in the area where a compressed gas cylinder containing argon and carbon dioxide was stored, but was not protected from damage. It was stored horizontally on the floor with portable stairs, 3 fifty-five (55) gallon drums of lubricating oil, and where large rolls of belting materials are stored and mechanical handling equipment is used exposing employees to injury in the event of the cylinder's rupture.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,344 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.110(e)(4)(iii): Permanent and removable fuel containers were not securely mounted to prevent jarring loose, slipping, or rotating:   a) Warehouse:  On or about December 28, 2022,  an employee used the Yale powered industrial truck(PIT), the removable LPG cylinder on the PIT was missing the index pin necessary to securely mount the cylinder.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.110(f)(4)(i): The quantity of LP-Gas stored shall not exceed 300 pounds (approximately 2,550 cubic feet in vapor form) except as provided in subparagraph (5) of this paragraph.   a) Warehouse, loading dock area: On or about December 28, 2022, twelve (12) thirty-three pound LPG cylinders were stored inside the building at the overhead door. This sum, 396 pounds, of LP gas exceeds the maximum quantity permitted, exposing employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:   a) Production and warehouse: On or about December 28, 2022 and continuing thereafter, employees used bonding products Normac 600R, Normac 900R and Blair 201 SS cement to bond conveyor belts. The bonding products contained hazardous chemicals including but not limited to, acetone, toluene, and trichloroethylene. The employer did not put hazard assessments in writing.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.   a) Production and warehouse: On or about December 28, 2022 and continuing thereafter, employees used bonding products Normac 600R, Normac 900R and Blair 201 SS cement to bond conveyor belts. The bonding products contained hazardous chemicals including but not limited to, acetone, toluene, and trichloroethylene. The employer did not provide gloves with adequate protection to employees who used bonding products.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(c)(1):The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.  (a) Facility: On or about December 28, 2022, the employer did not ensure that the portable fire extinguisher was readily accessible without subjecting the employees to possible injury. The fire extinguisher was mounted on the wall near the exit, however it was blocked with pieces of particle board and other items impeding access in an emergency.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $5,469 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) Facility: On or about December 28, 2022, the employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator has successfully completed the training on the use of a powered industrial trucks.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $5,469 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.179(j)(2)(iv): Monthly inspections of hoist chains, with a certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and an identifier of the chain which was inspected, were not performed:  a) Warehouse: On or about December 28, 2022, employees attach and lift rolls of belting material with the Yale 10 ton hoist using chains and a lifting beam. The employer did not ensure that hoist chains used with the Yale 10 ton hoist were visually inspected and recorded, exposing employees to injury.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1): Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.   a) Warehouse, across from slitter machine: On or about December 28, 2022, employees worked in the area where electrical panels were blocked with rolls of belt materials and did not allow sufficient space to allow employees to have access in an emergency or for maintenance.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

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) Production and warehouse: On or about December 28, 2022 and continuing thereafter, employees used bonding products Normac 600R, Normac 900R and Blair 201 SS cement to bond conveyor belts. The bonding products contained hazardous chemicals including but not limited to, acetone, toluene, and trichloroethylene. The employer did not provide the required training and information to employees.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.   a) Production Area: On or about December 28, 2022 and continuing thereafter, employees used Normac 600R, Normac 900R and Blair 201 SS cement  which contained hazardous chemicals including but not limited to, acetone, toluene, and trichloroethylene to bond belting materials. The employer did not provide all of the required training and information.

Issued

Jun 23, 2023

Abate by

Jul 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:   a) Production: On or about December 28, 2022, the employer did not provide training to employees who were permitted to voluntarily wear SAS model 8610 N95 filtering facepiece respirators to protect against dust and chemicals. Employees had not received training nor were they provided appendix D.