OSHA Inspection: FORBO FLOORING INC

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8296.00 · Current $7000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(i): Inside storage rooms were not constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction did not comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969:  a) 18 Maplewood Drive, Hazle Twp, PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, employees were exposed to fire hazards when working in the main production area, due to Category 1 flammable aerosols being stored in portable tanks inside of the building without being in a storage room purposefully constructed to store such liquids.   Abatement certification and documentation required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $8000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)  a) Production area: On or about March 19, 2024, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present which would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.   Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(h)(1): Where needed to prevent methylene chloride induced skin or eye irritation, the employer did not provide clean protective clothing and equipment resistant to methylene chloride, at no cost to the employee, and/or did not ensure that each affected employee used it:  a) Armor Coat: On or about March 19, 2024, employees were exposed to methylene chloride when using an aerosol adhesive product to glue flooring product to a metal backing without being provided clean protective clothing and equipment resistant to methylene chloride.  Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $10600.00 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) Forbo Flooring: On or about March 20, 2024, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while performing set-up, servicing, and maintenance activities on machinery without a lockout / tagout program.  Abatement certification and documentation required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $10600.00 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) Slitter: On or about March 19, 2024, an employee operating the slitter machine was exposed to crush-by hazards due a lack of any guarding to prevent body parts from entering the zone of danger.  b) Flotech Line, Flippers: On or about March 19, 2024, employees working on the Flotech line were exposed to struck by hazards when separating tiles due to disconnected interlocks on the cage doors.  c) Water Jet: On or about March 19, 2024, employees working on the water jet were exposed to cut-by hazards due to unguarded high-pressure waterjet nozzles.   Abatement certification and documentation required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $8000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(d)(1): Circular handfed crosscut table saw(s) were not guarded by an automatically adjusting hood which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and above the material being cut:  a) Wood shop table saw: On or about March 27, 2024, employees were exposed to amputation hazards when operating a table saw due to no self-adjusting guard being present over the blade.  Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6222.00 · Current $4600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i): The dimension of the working space in the direction of access to live parts operating at 600 volts or less and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while live was less than indicated in Table S1:  a) P.I.T. Charging station, loading dock: On or about March 27, 2024, employees were exposed to shock hazards due to an electrical panel which supplied power to chargers for powered industrial vehicles being blocked by the chargers it was supplying.   Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6222.00 · Current $4600.00 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) Armor cove: On March 19, 2024, employees were exposed to shock hazards while operating a chop saw, due to a flexible cord being used to provide power to the saw for several years.  b) Print room:  On March 19, 2024, employees were exposed to shock hazards while using the print room computer and monitor, due to a flexible cord being used to provide power to them for several years.  c) Wood shop: On or about March 27, 2024, employees were exposed to shock hazards while using the dust collector system, due to a flexible cord being used to provide power to it for several years.  Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $8000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(1)(i): Where methylene chloride was present in the workplace, the employer did not determine each employee's exposure:  a) 18 Maplewood Drive Hazle Twp, PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, employees spraying glue in the armor coating area and employees working in the surrounding vicinity, were exposed to methylene chloride and the employer did not determine the employee's exposure through air samples.  Abatement certification and documentation.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $10600.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(1): The employer did not provide information and training for each affected employee prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to methylene chloride:  a) 18 Maplewood Drive Hazle Twp, PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, employees spraying glue in the armor coating area and employees working in the surrounding vicinity, were exposed to methylene chloride and the employer did not provide any information or training to each potentially exposed employee.  Abatement certification and documentation required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) 18 Maplewood Drive, Hazle Twp., PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, the employer did not provide any training or information on hazardous chemicals used by employees, such as but not limited to, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate, terpene polymer, cyclohexane, pentane, toluene, and Methylene Chloride.  Abatement certification and documentation is required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $8000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(k)(1)(iii): The employer did not include methylene chloride in the hazard communication program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (� 1910.1200):   a) a) 18 Maplewood Drive, Hazle Twp., PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, the employer did not methylene chloride in a written hazard communications program.  Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program that included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):   a) 18 Maplewood Drive, Hazle Twp., PA 18202: On or about March 19, 2024, the employer did not develop a written hazard communications program when hazardous chemicals are used by employees, such as but not limited to, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate, terpene polymer, cyclohexane, pentane, toluene, and methylene chloride.  Abatement certification required.

Issued

2024-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  a) 18 Maplewood Drive, Hazle Twp, PA 18202: On or about March 28, 2024, the employer did not certify that each operator required to operate a powered industrial vehicle was trained and evaluated.   Abatement certification required.