OSHA Inspection: MIDWEST FIBRE PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Sep 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,344 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The employer did not ensure that the  floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition:  On or about April 21, 2023, employees working near and around the Balemaster and the shredder were exposed to slip/trip/fall hazards because the employer had not ensured the floor was kept free from accumulating dust, dirt, and debris.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,344 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceeded the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  On or about April 4, 2023, employees were exposed to noise levels above 85 dB and the employer had not developed and implemented a monitoring program.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Sep 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed 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:  a.  On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while performing servicing and maintenance activities on the shredder and the employer had not established and implemented an energy control program, consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure all energy sources were controlled and eliminated.   b. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while performing servicing and maintenance activities on the Flexo Folder (new) and the employer had not established and implemented an energy control program, consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure all energy sources were controlled and eliminated.  c. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while performing servicing and maintenance activities on the old Flexo Folder (old) and the employer had not established and implemented an energy control program, consisting of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure all energy sources were controlled and eliminated.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Sep 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while cleaning cardboard out of the shredder and the employer had not developed, documented and utilized a machine specific energy control procedure to control all potentially hazardous energy.  b. On or about April 21,  2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while adjusting the folding rails on the Flexo Folder (new) and the employer had not  developed, documented and utilized a machine specific energy control procedure to control all potentially hazardous energy.  c. On or about April 21,  2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while adjusting the folding rails on the Flexo Folder (old) and the employer had not developed, documented and utilized a machine specific energy control procedure to control all potentially hazardous energy.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Sep 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to  amputation hazards while cleaning cardboard out of and performing maintenance on the shredder and 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.  b. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to  amputation hazards while adjusting the rails of and performing maintenance on the Flexo Folder (new) and 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.  c. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to  amputation hazards while adjusting the rails of and performing maintenance on the Flexo Folder (old) and 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

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Oct 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $5,469 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:  a. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards when cleaning cardboard from in and around the shredder and the employer had not ensured the shredder was guarded in a manner that protects employees from hazards such as  those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, and rotating parts.   b. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards when adjusting the rail and cleaning cardboard from in and around the Flexo Folder (new) and the employer had not ensured the Flexo Folder was guarded in a manner that protects employees from hazards such as  those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, and rotating parts.  c. On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards when adjusting the rail and cleaning cardboard from in and around the Flexo Folder (old) and the employer had not ensured the Flexo Folder (old) was guarded in a manner that protects employees from hazards such as  those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, and rotating parts.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Oct 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $5,469 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 April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards because the pulley system located on the Flexo Folder (old) was less than seven feet off the floor and was not adequately guarded.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Oct 13, 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 April 21, 2023 employees were exposed to amputation hazards  because the belt located on the Flexo Folder (old) was less than seven feet off the floor and was not adequately guarded.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Oct 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(1): Gear(s) were not guarded by a complete enclosure or by one of the methods specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(1)(iii):  On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation hazards  because the gears located on the Flexo Folder (old)  were not adequately guarded.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,344 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  On or about April 21, 2023, employees were exposed to embolism hazards because the compressed air used for cleaning purposes exceeded 30 p.s.i.