OSHA Inspection: ECONOMY LINEN AND TOWEL SERVICE OF ZANESVILLE, INC.

Issued

Jul 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,394 · Current $11,385 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(1):  (1) The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.  The top edge height may exceed 45 inches (114 cm), provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (b) of this section (see Figure D-11).   a. On or about March 22, 2023 and days prior, the employer did not ensure that chain guardrails installed for the elevated walking platform used by employees to access and clean the lint trap for the Kannegiesser Dryer, provided an effective means of fall protection. The top rail chain was installed at a height of 26 inches above the platform, thereby exposing employees to a fall hazard of four feet.

Issued

Jul 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $13,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  a. On or about March 22, 2023 and days prior, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while working at the Kannegieseser Press machine due to a damaged interlock switch on the gate allowing the robotic shuttle to continue to transition between the press machine and the dryer while the gate was open.   b. On or about March 22, 2023, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while working at the Challenge Dryer due to a rear gate guard that had been removed which protected employees from the area where the robotic laundry shuttle transitioned between the press and the dryer.

Issued

Jul 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

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.  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 locker-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.  a. On or about March 22, 2023 and at times prior, the employer did not develop and document machine specific hazardous energy control procedures for the Kannegiesser Shuttle equipment for employees to utilize to control hazardous energy sources while performing service and maintenance covered activities, such servicing the robotic laundry shuttle due to linen obstructing a sensing eye, thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards as a result.

Issued

Jul 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d):  Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  a. On or about March 22, 2023 and days prior, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts during servicing activities on the Kannegiesser Shuttle, such as clearing linen from the sensing eye. The employer did not ensure that energy control application steps were implemented as the Kannegieser Shuttle 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

Jul 19, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a. On or about March 22, 2023 and at times prior, employees performed servicing activities on the Kannegiesser Shuttle, such as clearing linen from a sensing eye located in the shuttle area.  The employer did not ensure the employees performing the covered activities were trained as authorized employees in order to understand and recognize hazardous energy sources on the machine and to ensure that energy control methods were applied to isolate and control the hazardous energy sources.

Issued

Jul 19, 2023

Abate by

Aug 8, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,929 · Current $7,590 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv):  Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used:   29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):  As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;  a. On or about March 22, 2023 and days prior, the employer used the flexible extension cord as a substitute for fixed wiring to energize the overhead industrial fan located in the fluff area, thereby exposing employees to electrical and fire hazards as a result.