OSHA Inspection: HICKS OILS & HICKSGAS INC.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $5,078 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   (Instance 1) On or about January 24, 2023, for the Alvey 800 Palletizer Serial #: 238163-01 the Hicks Oil and Hicksgas lockout procedures did not contain the necessary specificity to clearly outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.  The procedure contained generic language that did not provide the necessary detailed information such as: specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating the energy sources (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, gas, and secondary electrical), blocking and securing the machine; specific procedural steps for the placement of lockout devices; and the specific actions to perform for verification of the effectiveness of the lockout implementation and other energy control measures.  (Instance 2) On or about January 24, 2023, for the Freedom 6500 Automatic Swingarm Stretch Wrapper MCJ-7659B Serial #: F301-065-7659AC the Hicks Oil and Hicksgas lockout procedures did not contain the necessary specificity to clearly outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.  The procedure contained generic language that did not provide the necessary detailed information such as: specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating the energy sources (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, gas, and secondary electrical), blocking and securing the machine; specific procedural steps for the placement of lockout devices; and the specific actions to perform for verification of the effectiveness of the lockout implementation and other energy control measures.  (Instance 3) On or about January 24, 2023, for the Oulette Machinery Systems Inc Model #: BKD-600 Serial #:138. the Hicks Oil and Hicksgas lockout procedures did not contain the necessary specificity to clearly outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.  The procedure contained generic language that did not provide the necessary detailed information such as: specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating the energy sources (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, gas, and secondary electrical), blocking and securing the machine; specific procedural steps for the placement of lockout devices; and the specific actions to perform for verification of the effectiveness of the lockout implementation and other energy control measures.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $5,078 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i)(D):  Where tagout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection did not include a review, between the inspector and each authorized and affected employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected, and the elements set forth in paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of this section.  On and before January 24, 2023, the employer's periodic inspection did not include a review between the inspector and an authorized employee for the energy control procedure being inspected for the following machines: The Alvey 800 Pelletizer Serial #:23863-01, the Oulette Machinery Systems Inc Depallitizer Model #: BKD-600 Serial #: 138, the Freedom 6500 Automatic Swingarm Stretch Wrapper MCJ-7659B

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,110 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices.  On or about January 24, 2023, the employer did not provide employees operating the Alvey 800 Palletizer Serial #: 238163-01 adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $6,094 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d):  The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedure) was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):  On or about January 24, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, in-going nip points, and thermal hazards during the servicing of the Alvey 800 Palletizer Serial #: 238163-01. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements].  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jun 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $4,297 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l):Operators were not trained in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks.  On or before January 24, 2023 the employer did not ensure that employees were trained on how to safely operate a forklift.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Jun 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6):The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  On or about January 24, the employer did not ensure that each forklift operator had a written training and evaluation certification as required by the standard.