OSHA Inspection: ADVANTECH PLASTICS LLC

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Oct 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $3,227 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels:  An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by AdvanTech Plastics LLC.  a)  Production area - On or about March 19, 2024, an employee operating injection mold presses was exposed to continuous noise levels at 69.5% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 69.5% is approximately 87.4 dBA. The sampling was performed for 467 minutes during one 8-hour work shift on March 19, 2024.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 13 minutes.    Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $3,227 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary, whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  (a) Molding station #1 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that an employee donned safety glasses and face shield prior to grinding a metal bolt while inside the clamp unit area of a Husky Hylectric 300 RS80/70, Machine Item #2301070, thereby exposing them to struck by and eye hazards which may result in cuts, lacerations, and burns to the eyes and face.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $5,646 Reduced

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) Molding station #1 - On or about March 19, 2024 - the employer did not require utilization of a hazardous energy control procedure for the maintenance of a Husky Hylectric 300 RS80/70, Machine Item #2301070, thereby exposing employees to caught in and crushing hazards.   Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $5,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, including, but not limited to, items of 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   (a) Molding station #1 - On or about March 19, 2024, an authorized employee performed repair tasks on the Husky Hylectric 300 RS80/70, Machine Item #2301070. The employer's Lockout Tagout Procedure (Presses) did not outline the scope, purpose, nor list specific procedural steps for isolating all hazardous energy, thereby exposing employees to struck-by, pressure, and heat hazards during servicing and maintenance activities that could result in lacerations, fractures, amputation, burns, and death.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $5,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  (a)  Molding station #1 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of Lockout Tagout Procedure (Presses) within the past year thereby exposing employees struck-by, pressure, and heat hazards that could result in lacerations, fractures, amputation, burns, and death.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $5,646 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): All energy isolating devices that were needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment were not physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s):  (a) Molding station #6 - On or about February 17, 2024, the employer did not require utilization of an energy isolating device for maintenance of a cord-and-plug MAC Automation Concepts, Inc. Small Frame Aluminum Belt Conveyor thereby exposing employees to caught in hazards. As a result, an employee suffered a fingertip amputation when servicing the energized and running equipment.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,033 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  (a) Molding station #6 - On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not ensure that a sprocket wheel and chain driving a MAC Automation Concepts, Inc. Incline Conveyor belt was enclosed thereby exposing employees to caught-in hazards that could results in laceration and amputation.  Abatement documentation is not required of this item.

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in in-patient hospitalization, amputation or the loss of an eye.  (a) On or about February 17, 2024, the employer failed to report a work-related incident that resulted in a fingertip amputation within 24 hours. The incident was not reported until February 22, 2024.  Abatement documentation is not required of this item.

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $1,613 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): The employer did not enter each recordable injury or illness on the OSHA 300 Log within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness had occurred:  (a) On or about February 28, 2024, the employer failed to enter injury or illness information on the 2024 OSHA 300 Log for all employees who had a recordable injury or illness on February 17, 2024.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Jul 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours.  (a) On or about February 28, 2024, the employer did not provide a copy of the 2024 OSHA 300 log within four business hours of request. The employer had a recordable, work-related incident resulting in amputation on February 17, 2024.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  (a) Foreman office/breakroom - On or about March 9, 2024, the employer permitted the use of a relocatable power tap to energize a microwave oven and toaster oven appliances, thereby exposing employees to fire hazards.   Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Jul 15, 2024

Abate by

Aug 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Molding station #2 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a relocatable power tap was not used as substitute for fixed wiring.  The power tap was extended from a receptacle outlet mounted to the injection molding machine and used to power an overhead work light and conveyor belt.   (b) Molding station #3 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a relocatable power tap was not used as substitute for fixed wiring.  The power tap was extended from a receptacle outlet mounted to the injection molding machine and used to power an overhead work light, stand fan, and scale.  (c) Molding station #4 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a relocatable power tap was not used as substitute for fixed wiring.  The power tap was extended from a receptacle outlet mounted to the injection molding machine and used to power an overhead work light, stand fan, and scale.  (d) Molding station #5 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a relocatable power tap was not used as substitute for fixed wiring.  The power tap was extended from a receptacle outlet mounted to the injection molding machine and used to power an overhead work light, stand fan, and scale.  (e) Molding station #6 - On or about March 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that a relocatable power tap was not used as substitute for fixed wiring.  The power tap was extended from a receptacle outlet mounted to the injection molding machine and used to power an overhead work light, stand fan, scale, and conveyor belt.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).