OSHA Inspection: R.F. HIGGINBOTHAM, INC.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $691 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:   On or about January 9, 2024, on the south side of the facility; exit route was obstructed by pallets and materials decreasing the walkway accessibility, exposing employees to slips, trips, and fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.176(c):Storage areas were not kept free from accumulation of materials that constituted hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harborage:  On or about January 9, 2024, throughout the facility's storage areas; material and pallets were stored in walkways, exposing employees to slips, trips, and fall hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $691 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(2):Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":  On or about January 9, 2024, on the north side of the facility; exit routes for the front shop area were not marked with an "Exit" sign, exposing employees to the hazards associated with a delay in exiting the building.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,918 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:  On or about January 9, 2024, and at times prior thereto at this facility; employees were performing work that required personal protective equipment without the employer performing a hazard assessment, exposing employees to hazards such as, but not limited to inhalation, contact and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $922 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  On or about January 9, 2024, on the northwest wall of the facility; an eye wash station was not maintained where employees work with corrosive chemicals, exposing employees to irreversible chemical burns.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(e)(1): The employer did not inspect, maintain and test all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace:    On or about January 9, 2024, throughout the facility; fire extinguishers were not inspected, maintained, and serviced for employees in the event of a fire; exposing employees for burn and inhalation hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,134 · Current $784 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.176(b): Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse:   On or about January 9, 2024, off the east wall of the facility; exterior ventilation covers were stored/stacked improperly on storage racks, exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $922 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(q)(1):Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition was not taken out of service, and/or repairs were not made by authorized personnel:  On or about January 9, 2024, at this facility; employees were operating a forklift that had deficiencies and was not taken out of service, exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $1,153 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:  On or about January 9, 2024, in the back shop of the facility; employees were utilizing a vertical band saw without guards, exposing employees to nips, lacerations, and amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $691 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(b):Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:  On or about January 9, 2024, in the back shop area; the employer failed to secure drill press to the ground to prevent moving and or falling over, exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(a)(4):Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:  On or about January 9, 2024, on the west side wall of the facility; employees utilized a Porter Cable pedestal bench grinder with work rests that were adjusted greater than 1/8 inches from the wheel, exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(b)(9):The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  On or about January 9, 2024, on the west side of the wall of the facility; employees utilized a Porter Cable pedestal grinder with the tongue guards adjusted more than 1/4 inches from the wheel, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck-by debris.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $922 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(a):Hand and portable powered tools or equipment were not kept in safe condition:  On or about January 9, 2024, in the front shop of the facility; employees were utilizing equipment to include but not limited to soldering tools with wires exposed from the housing; exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.253(b)(2)(ii): Cylinders were not stored in areas to ensure that the cylinders would not be knocked over:  On or about January 9, 2024, in the weld shed on the site; used portable compressed gas tanks were not secured to avoid being knocked over; exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,134 · Current $784 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.253(b)(4)(i): Oxygen cylinders were stored near highly combustible material, especially oil and grease; or near reserve stocks of carbide and acetylene or other fuel-gas cylinders, or near other substance likely to cause or accelerate fire;  On or about January 9, 2024, in the welding shed on the site; the employer stored oxygen cylinders in close proximity to 5-gallon cans of exterior paint and acetylene cylinders; exposing employees to fire and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $1,153 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.254(c)(2)(v):All ground connections were not checked to determine that they were mechanically strong and electrically adequate for the required welding current:  On or about January 9, 2024, in the welding shed area; employees used a welding machine grounding clamp that was rusted through with a damaged grounding wire, exposing employees to electrical hazards

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 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 January 9, 2024, in the front shop area; employees were carrying long pieces of fabricated metal in close proximity to a fan that did not have its electrical wires covered or protected, exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $588 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(a)(2)(ix):Lamps for general illumination were not protected from accidental contact or breakage by a suitable fixture or lampholder with a guard.  On or about January 9, 2024, employees were working under open fluorescent lighting that was not protected from breakage; exposing employees to electrical shock and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $691 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:   On or about January 9, 2024, in the front shop; employees were using extension cords as a permanent means to power equipment, exposing employees to shocks and other electrical hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $691 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(2)(iii):Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  On or about January 9, 2024, employees were using 120-V soldering irons with damaged strain relief; exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $922 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical   On or about January 9, 2024, in the soldering area of the facility; employees were using a container of muriatic acid without hazard labels or general information in the soldering process, exposing employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $922 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:  On or about January 9, 2024, at this facility; employees were working with hazardous chemicals without receiving training from the employer; exposing employees to dermal contact and inhalation hazards.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $922 · Current $231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.29(a):The employer did not use an OSHA 300, 301 and 300A Form or equivalent. Abatement Certification and Documentation is required.  On or about January 9, 2024, the employer did not complete and maintain injury and illness logs when employees suffered recordable injures.