OSHA Inspection: UNITED CANDLE COMPANY LLC

Issued

Jul 23, 2024

Abate by

Aug 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $906 · Current $906

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1903.19(d)(1): The employer must submit to the Agency, along with the information on abatement certification required by paragraph (c)(3) of this section, documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.  a.   For Citation 1, Item 6, issued on November 15, 2023, with an abatement date of December 5, 2023, the employer failed to submit abatement documentation and certification of abatement for this violation to OSHA.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $4,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:  a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not perform a hazard assessment of the workplace, including but not limited to, candle pouring operations, blowing off equipment with compressed air, and operating the drilling machines, to ensure hazards were identified and necessary personal protective equipment was selected and required to protect employees. As a result, employees were exposed to burns due to thermal hazards, and eye injuries due to flying particles.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light the employer did not ensure that employers were provided with and utilized eye protection when using compressed air to blow off equipment, operating the drilling machines, and during pouring operations.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employers were provided with and utilized eye protection when using compressed air to blow off equipment, operating the drilling machines, and during pouring operations, thereby exposing employees to struck-by-hazards.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a):General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not provide and ensure employees utilized hand protection when pouring approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit hot wax into candle molds, thereby exposing employees to burn hazards.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 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.   a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not ensure a Pouring Department employee utilized the documented energy control procedure for the Pouring Reservoir and conveyor machine, while the employee performed servicing and maintenance covered activities, such as cleaning the melted wax from underneath the machine, including the conveyor belt, thereby exposing the employee to moving machine parts.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · 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 September 27, 2023, the employer did not ensure employees performing service and maintenance related activities received authorized employee training in order to recognize the hazardous energy sources and the procedures necessary to isolate and control the energy sources.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B):Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not ensure employees operating the equipment and/or working in the areas in which service and maintenance related activities occur received affected employee training in order to understand the purpose and function of the energy control program and procedures.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(3):Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  a. On or about September 27, 2023, an employee was exposed to machine hazards while cleaning wax from the cut off saw machine. The employer did not ensure the machine was isolated from its electrical energy source.  b. On or about September 27, 2023, an employee was exposed to machine hazards while cleaning wax from the Pouring Reservoir machine and conveyor belt. The employer did not ensure the machine was isolated from its energy sources, including electrical, thermal, and pneumatic.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 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).  a. On or about September 27, the employer did not evaluate the competency of employees when they operated powered industrial vehicles such as the Yale forklift, model GLC040, serial number A809N01873 at the worksite. As a result, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 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 September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to an ingoing nip point as a result of an unguarded metal tension roller adjacent to the drive roller on the #4 metal mesh belt conveyor in the coldroom.  b. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards associated with pinch points, shear points, and moving chain conveyor parts while reaching in to load and/or align candles while operating the cut off saw as a result of multiple missing candle holders.  c. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards associated with pinch points, shear points, and moving chain conveyor parts operating the cut off saw due to an unprotected opening on the top of the machine guard at the beginning of the machine adjacent the loading area.    d. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to flying candle wax material and the movement of the unguarded rotating chuck while operating the Leeson Model A6C17NB4G horizontal drilling machine to drill holes through the center of candles.  e. On or about July 28, 2023, the employer did not ensure that the unused portion of the saw blade was guarded between above the material and to the blade guide rollers on the DoAll bandsaw, Model 2013-V, serial # 500-971692, thereby exposing employees to contact with the moving blade.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $5,469 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(d)(1):Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to in-going nip points and caught-in hazards due to the unguarded rotating pulley mechanism on the side of the Pulverizer machine.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(1)(i):Where both runs of horizontal belts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor level, the guard shall extend to at least fifteen (15) inches above the belt or to a standard height, except that where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor, the belt shall be fully enclosed in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were exposed to in-going nip points and caught-in hazards due to the unguarded rotating belt on the Pulverizer pump.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Dec 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3):Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, and employee sweeping the floor underneath the cut off saw was exposed to the nip points created by the exposed drive chain on the drive of the conveyor motor.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $4,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:  a. On or about September 27, 2023, the employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazards associated with the chemicals used at the work site, including but not limited to, stearic acid and the polymer Vybar 103/Polyboost 165, and the propane gas utilized as fuel for the forklift.

Issued

Nov 15, 2023

Abate by

Jan 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a. On or about September 27, 2023, employees were not provided with effective information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work site, including but not limited to, stearic acid, polymer Vybar 103/Polyboost 165, and the propane gas utilized as fuel for the forklift. Employees were not trained on the methods and observations to be used to detect hazardous chemicals [(h)(3)(i)], the physical and health hazards [(h)(3)(ii)], protection measurers [(h)(3)(iii)] and hazard communication program information [(h)(3)(iv)].