OSHA Inspection: AHLSTROM-MUNKSJO NONWOVENS, LLC

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  Machine 412:  On, or about, January 10, 2023, safeguarding was not provided to protect employees from rotating parts and in-running nip points created by carrier ropes and sheaves, pulleys and tensioners.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $12,161 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1):   Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.  Location: Jobsite.  Authorized employees on paper machine did not have the requisite knowledge of the hazards of the energy to be controlled, nor the methods or means to control the energy.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(f)(2)(i):  Hepatitis B vaccination was not made available within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employee(s) with occupational exposure:  Company:  On, or about, January 10, 2023, an employee who was a designated First Aid Responder had not been offered the Hepatitis B vaccination series prior to responding to a workplace accident that occurred at Machine 412.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $12,000 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:  Production Floor, Machine 412:  On, or about, January 10, 2023, the dryer and reel sections of the machine were not de-energized and locked out when tasks were being performed related to the replacement of carrier ropes.  Portions of the machine were left running on idle speed which caused portions of the rope system to be in operation in close proximity to where employees had to access the damaged rope that required replacement.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(i):  Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware were not provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources:  Production Floor, Machine 412:  On, or about, January 10, 2023 and at times prior, each employee who performed tasks related to changing carrier ropes was not provided with individual lock and tag to be applied to each energy isolating point or group lockout device such as a lockbox, during lockout activities.  During the lockout portion of the task, the machine was routinely locked out using one lock and tag, regardless of how many employees were assisting with the rethreading task.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D):  Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:  Production Floor, Machine 412:  On, or about, January 10, 2023 and at time prior, each employee who assisted with the task of threading ropes did not affix a personal lockout device on each energy isolating device or group lockout device such as a lockbox.  Abatement Note: Per 29 CFR 1910.147, the definition of an Authorized Employee is "A person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An employee becomes an authorized employee when that employee's duties include performing servicing or maintenance covered under this section."