OSHA Inspection: EVERGREEN RECYCLING, LLC

Issued

2023-11-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-05-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $10938.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, including severe burns, to employees in that employees were exposed to fire, flash fire, deflagration, or explosion hazards from an inadequate dust collection system:  a) Cleaning Department Area - On or about May 16, 2023, employees working in the cleaning department area performing tasks such as, but not limited to, cleaning, dry sweeping of dust, grinding, and transporting boxes of material were exposed to fire hazards.  Employees blow down the dust from the ceiling and hard to reach places between once/week to once/month with all the machinery still powered on and running.  In the dust collection system, the socks were not maintained and changed out regularly, and some of the socks were left open or removed that allowed the dust to blow around and accumulate.  A Kice Bag House (Bag House 1) for Cleaning Line 1 for Buehler 1 did not have the isolation valve installed in the event of a fire.  No hazard assessment for the PET Combustible dust has been performed at the Albany facility.  Dust collection systems and associated components including, but not limited to, dust collection socks and bag houses were not designed, installed and maintained to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from the combustible recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dust.

Issued

2023-11-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $10938.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): 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:   a) Cleaning Dept Area - On or prior to May 16, 2023, employees working in the cleaning department area were exposed to slip, trip, and fall hazards, as well as fire or explosion hazards due to the cleaning area accumulating recycled polyethylene terephthalate dust to levels where entire sections of the floor could not be seen through the dust accumulation.

Issued

2023-11-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $7813.00 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:  a) Transfer Auger Area - On or prior to May 16, 2023, the Transfer Auger had a projecting shaft end exposing employees to caught-in hazards.  b) Eriez Machine Area - On or prior to May 16, 2023, the Eriez machine had a projecting shaft end exposing employees to caught-in hazards.  c) Kong Skilde Area - On or prior to May 16, 2023, Cleaning Line 1 (Kong Skilde area) had a projecting shaft end exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

2023-11-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $10938.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a) Cleaning Dept Area - On or about May 16, 2023, an extension cord was used as a substitute for fixed wiring when employees used  the extension cord to power a Rigid Grinder (model # R10202, Serial # CS21165ND18370).

Issued

2023-11-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $10938.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:   a) Cleaning Department Area - On or about May 16, 2023, employees working in the cleaning department area performing tasks on an intermittent basis such as, but not limited to, cleaning, grinding, and transporting boxes of material were exposed to caught-in hazards in the event of a fire or explosion.  Employees were not trained in the combustible dust hazards associated with combustible recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dust.