OSHA Inspection: PIONEER PLASTICS, INC.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4465.00 · Current $2231.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): Energy control program. The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  The employer did not develop an energy control program including energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections for employees performing servicing and maintenance work including die setting, clearing jams, and changing heating bands on plastic injection molding machines to prevent exposure to hydraulic, electric, and thermal hazards.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.    The employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work including die setting, clearing jams, and changing heating bands on plastic injection molding machines that exposed employees to potential hydraulic, electrical, and thermal hazards.  Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locked-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees.   The employer did not provide training for employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work including die setting, clearing jams, and changing heating bands on plastic injection molding machines.  The employer did not train employees on the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls to prevent exposure to hydraulic, electrical, and thermal hazards.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4465.00 · Current $4465.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly.  a) On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to potential struck-by and crushed-by hazards while utilizing a CAT VC60D forklift with an LMS-boom forklift attachment to lift plastic injection molding dies into machines. The employer did not receive the forklift's manufacturers prior written approval to utilize the boom with the lift.  b) On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to potential struck-by and crushed-by hazards while utilizing a Clark TM17 forklift to lift plastic injection molding dies into machines. The forklift had a hole drilled into the end of the fork with an eye bolt installed to lift plastic injection molding dies into machines without the prior written manufacturer's approval.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(5): If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, the user shall request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered.  On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to potential struck-by and crushed-by hazards while utilizing an LMS-boom forklift attachment to lift plastic injection molding dies into machines. The forklift was not marked to identify the attachment and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with the load laterally centered.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(6): The user shall see that all nameplates and markings are in place and are maintained in a legible condition.   On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; a CAT VC60D LP powered forklift did not have a nameplate in a legible condition.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4465.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall 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).   On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that powered industrial truck operators had completed training and evaluation prior to allowing them to operate forklifts to move materials and set dies in plastic injection molding machines.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2): No person shall be allowed to stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, whether loaded or empty.   On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to potential struck-by and crushed-by hazards while utilizing a CAT VC60D forklift with an LMS-boom forklift attachment to lift plastic injection molding dies into machines. Employees were observed working under the elevated attachment to set and remove the plastic injection molding dies.

Issued

2023-08-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(iii): When the operator of an industrial truck is dismounted and within 25 ft. of the truck still in his view, the load engaging means shall be fully lowered, controls neutralized, and the brakes set to prevent movement.   On or about March 2, 2023, at an establishment located at 3513 Parcek Street in Marinette, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to potential struck-by and crushed-by hazards when a forklift operator dismounted a CAT VC60D forklift and did not lower the load engaging means or neutralize the controls. The operator dismounted the forklift with the boom attachment and load in the elevated position and worked underneath the forks while setting plastic injection mold dies.