OSHA Inspection: PROGRESSIVE CONVERTING, INC.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,140 · Current $5,070 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1): The top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.  The top edge height may exceed 45 inches (114 cm), provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (b) of this section (see Figure D-11).  At an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about May 1, 2024, the inspection table located on the elevated work platform on the Falcon Sheeter had a wooden platform employees stood on to perform a quality check of the product running which had the top rail height of approximately 37.5 inches exposing employees to fall hazards.  (b)  During the week of April 29, 2024, the Pasaban had the top rail in the up position at the layboy section next to the stairs leading to the elevated platform exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 50 inches.  (c)  On or about May 1, 2024, the Marquip 2 did not have the frame by the layboy section extended 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, exposing employees to fall hazards.  (d) On or about May 1, 2024, the Marquip 1 did not have the frame by the layboy section extend 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches, exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 79 inches.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Abate by

Oct 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $6,338 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):  The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees.   At an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the developed authorized employee control of hazardous energy training program had deficiencies noted on tasks not requiring the control of hazardous energy exposing employees to restart of equipment.  Tasks misidentified included tasks such as but not limited to changing slitter blades and removing reject bins as part of the minor exception.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Abate by

Oct 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $6,338 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.  At an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin:  (a)  On or about May 1, 2024, an employee was exposed to struck by and crushing hazards from the Interlake Skid Press table when located in the elevated position while working below to install and tighten straps on loads of paper.  (b)   On or about April 29, 2024, employee(s) were exposed to caught in between hazards on the Maxson Sheeter with the unguarded in running nip points when the belts went around the rollers while removing the reject bin during operation.  (c)  On or about April 29, 2024, employee(s) were exposed to caught in between hazards on the Maxson Sheet with the unguarded slitter blades while visually inspecting the web as it went through the sheeter.  (d)  On or about the week of April 29, 2024, employee(s) were exposed to caught in between hazards on the Pasaban Sheeter with the unguarded in running nip points when the belts went around the rollers while removing the reject bin during operation.  (e)  On or about the week of April 29, 2024, employee(s) were exposed to caught in between hazards on the Pasaban Sheeter with the unguarded slitter blades while visually inspecting the web as it went through the sheeter.  (f) On or about the week of April 29, 2024, employee(s) were exposed to caught in between hazards on the Pasaban Sheeter while loading paper into the chucks utilizing the joystick.  The unguarded pinch point was located when maneuvering the core and chuck together.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,604 · Current $3,802 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)  At the end of April 2024 and thereafter, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Metabo DSD 250 Pedestal Grinder had both tongue guards adjusted to approximately one-half inch opening exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $6,338 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.  On or about May 1, 2024, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Interlake Skid Press had several unguarded chain and sprockets at the banding area exposing employees to caught in between hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $6,338 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):  Compressed air used for cleaning. Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.  On or about May 1, 2024, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the air nozzle used aerate or blow to grab the sheets on the Skid Flipper had a pressure greater than 30 psi exposing employees to injuries related to compressed air entering the body such as swelling, severe pain, or air embolism.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Abate by

Oct 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $88,721 · Current $44,360 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii):  The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:  (a)  The energy control procedure for the Marquip 1 did not have specifical procedural steps to address the gravity energy source by requiring the use of the chains or lowering the layboy into the lowest position exposing employees to struck by hazards.  (b)  The energy control procedure for the Marquip 2 did not have specifical procedural steps to address the gravity energy source by requiring the use of the chains or lowering the layboy into the lowest position exposing employees to struck by hazards.  (c)  The energy control procedure for the Falcon did not have specifical procedural steps to address the gravity energy source by requiring the use of the chains or lowering the layboy into the lowest position exposing employees to struck by hazards.  (d)  The energy control procedure for the Maxson 4 did not have specifical procedural steps to address the gravity energy source by requiring the use of the chains or lowering the layboy into the lowest position exposing employees to struck by hazards.  The Progressive Converting, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1584837, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on September 2, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Abate by

Oct 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  At an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin,   (a)  On or about June 11, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in setup activities on the slitter blades and changing the slitter blades on the Marquip 1 Sheeter.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to set up and change slitter blades.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  (b)  On or about April 29, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in setup activities on the slitter blades and changing the slitter blades on the Pasaban Sheeter.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to set up and change slitter blades.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  (c)  On or about June 28, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in setup activities on the slitter blades and changing the slitter blades on the Pasaban Sheeter.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to set up and change slitter blades.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  The Progressive Converting, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1584837, citation number 1, item number 1c and was affirmed as a final order on September 2, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(9): Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury;  On or about May 1, 2024, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, on the Marquip 2 line, the U-Line 4-step ladder M0621 had a bottom bent rung exposing employees to trip hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.137(c)(2)(viii):  Electrical protective equipment shall be subjected to periodic electrical tests. Test voltages and the maximum intervals between tests shall be in accordance with Table I-4 and Table I-5.  During the week of June 3, 2024, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the electrically rated gloves, when put into service, were not tested every 6 months thereafter exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Abate by

Oct 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the following considerations:  At an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin,    (a)  During the week of April 29, 20224, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards on the Pasaban located at the outfeed section of the layboy.  The limit switch had a damaged flexible pipe exposing electrical wires to abrasion.   (b)  On or about May 1, 2024, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards on the Marquip 1.  A relocatable portable tap, used to power a radio, was damaged located by one of the operator's controls.

Issued

Sep 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2):  Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.  On or about May 1, 2024, at an establishment located at 2430 East Glendale Avenue, in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Marquip 1 had a metallic box with knockouts installed at the end of a flexible cord was not being used in accordance with the listing and labeling which required to be surface mounted exposing employees to electrical shock hazards.