OSHA Inspection: STRATEGIC MATERIALS, INC.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto and at times thereafter, walkways, egress paths and walking-working surfaces were not maintained in an orderly and sanitary condition throughout the facility. Thus, exposing employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $5,000 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:  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, energy control procedures were not developed, documented and used for machinery and/or equipment located within the production area(s) to include, but not limited to, 12-Mesh, 5/8, Optical and Pre-Clean areas. Thus, exposing employee(s) to struck-by, and amputation hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,733 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s):  On or about March 9, 2023, employees did not affix lockout tagout devices that indicated their identity on machinery and/or equipment located within the production area(s) to include, but not limited to, 12-Mesh, 5/8, Optical and Pre-Clean areas. Thus, exposing employee(s) to struck-by, and amputation hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  On or about March 9, 2023, and at times prior thereto, authorized employees did not affix lockout tag out devices to each energy isolation device on machinery and/or equipment located within the production area(s) to include, but not limited to, 12-Mesh, 5/8, Optical and Pre-Clean areas, thus exposing employees to amputation, caught in-between and burns.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(5)(i): All potentially hazardous stored or residual energy was not relieved, disconnected, restrained or otherwise rendered safe after the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices:  On or about March 9, 2023, and at times prior thereto, all potentially hazardous energy was not relieved or otherwise rendered safe prior to the start of work at machinery and/or equipment located within the production area(s) to include, but not limited to, 12-Mesh, 5/8, Optical and Pre-Clean areas, thus exposing employees to amputation, caught in-between and burns.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $10,000 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):  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior there to, employees operated powered industrial trucks without being deemed competent by the successful completion of the required training and evaluation, exposing employees to struck-by and crush-by hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $12,278

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, unused openings in live electrical boxes were not closed, exposing employees to electric shock, electrocution and fire hazards in the following instances (a-b):  a) 12 Mesh Building - Control Panels on South Wall; and  b) 5/8 Building - Breaker Box along South Wall.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(7)(iii): Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, were damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues.  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, internal components of live electrical boxes and cabinets were contaminated by a foreign substance identified as the by-products of the glass recycling process, exposing employees to electric shock, electrocution, and fire hazards, in the following instances (a-b):    a) The Main Control Panels in the 12-Mesh Building; and  b) Breaker Box in the 5/8 Building along Southern Wall.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i).  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, live electrical equipment rated at more than 50-volts was not guarded against accidental contact related to electrical bank panel labelled "Crusher" in the 12-Mesh Building exposing employees to arc flash and electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(ii): In locations where electric equipment was likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards were not so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage.   On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, an electrical junction box in the 5/8 Building was not protected from physical damage, thus exposing employees to potential electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $156,259 · Current $125,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  On or about March 9, 2023, pulley(s) with rotating parts seven feet or less from the floor were not guarded against physical contact, exposing employees to caught-in-between hazards in the following instances (a-d):  a) Unguarded tail pulley located on the Northwest Corner of the Pre-Clean Building.  b) Unguarded tail pulley located at the Northern end of the 5/8 Building.  c) Unguarded tail pulley located at the South end of the 5/8 Building, near operator station, and  d) Unguarded tail pulley located in the Optical Building, adjacent to the elevated Operator Station.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:  On or about March 9, 2023, and times prior thereto, horizontal belts with both runs seven feet or less from the floor were not guarded, exposing employees to caught-in-between hazards in the following instances (a-d):  a) 12-Mesh Building, Northern  and Eastern Side b) Optical Building, Exterior and Southern Side c) Pre-Clean Exterior, Northern and Southern Side d) 5/8 Building, Southern and Western Side

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $34,375 · Current $25,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(15): 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(15): Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed. Except as provided elsewhere in this section or by other subparts of this part, the employer did not ensure each employee on a walking working surface 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one of the systems listed in 1910.28(b)(15)(i)-(iii).  On or about March 9, 2023, employees accessing the top of the glass crusher in the 12-Mesh Building were not provided fall protection and a work platform free from exposure to a fall hazard of more than four feet to the lower level.  Strategic Materials Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(15), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1500353, citation number One,  item number Two and was affirmed as a final order on January 19, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 3240 Robinson Road in Midlothian, TX.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $34,375 · Current $15,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft.  On or about March 9, 2023, unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge which exposed employees to caught-in hazards in the following instances (a-c):  a) Unguarded projecting shaft not presenting a smooth edge and projected end length was more than half the diameter on the BT Binder sorting magnet assembly located outside of the South side of Optical Building;  b) Unguarded projecting shaft not presenting a smooth edge and projected end length was more than half the diameter  on the Hazemag machine located adjacent to the operator station in the 5/8 Building; and  c) Unguarded projecting shaft not presenting a smooth edge on the south side exterior of the Optical Building, adjacent to electrical cabinet 0701.   Strategic Materials Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1509329, citation number One, item number One/b  and was affirmed as a final order on May 24, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 3240 Robinson Road in Midlothian, TX.

Issued

Sep 8, 2023

Abate by

Oct 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $34,375 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed.  On or about March 9, 2023, rotating sprockets and chains less than seven (7) feet above the floor were not enclosed. Thus, exposing employees to amputation hazards.   Strategic Materials Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1508872 , citation number One, item number One and was affirmed as a final order on March 4, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 8436 Kopman Drive, Houston, TX 77061.

Issued

Jun 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $9,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:   On or about December 8, 2022, and times prior thereto, employees were not provided with electrical protective equipment. Thus, exposing employees to electrical shock, deep burns, electrocution and arc flash/blast, trauma or injuries involving permanent disability.