OSHA Inspection: SUPERIOR SIGNAL COMPANY, LLC

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6452.00 · Current $8401.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(b)(1): At least two exit routes were not available in the workplace to permit prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency, except as allowed in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.   a) The Factory Building at 182 West Greystone Rd in Old Bridge NJ 08857;  The aisle along the north outer wall in the wrapping room served as part of the exit route for employee(s) performing drilling and wrapping of smoke test canisters, and was dead-ended by an interior wall on the west end. The path of exit route travel from this aisle was toward a work station where explosive (high-hazard) fuse is cut within the same room.  A fire occurred on 5/01/2024 within the wrapping room that emitted copious smoke throughout the other rooms of the building, where an employee died prior to evacuating.  Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.  Note: For assistance in determining the number of exit routes necessary for your workplace, consult NFPA 101-2009, Life Safety Code, or IFC-2009, International Fire Code (incorporated by reference, see § 1910.6).

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6452.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees would not have to travel toward a high hazard area, nor was the hazard effectively shielded by suitable partitions or barriers:  a) The Factory Building at 182 West Greystone Rd in Old Bridge NJ 08857;  The aisle along the north outer wall in the wrapping room served as part of the exit route for employee(s) performing drilling and wrapping of smoke test canisters, and was dead-ended by an interior wall on the west end. The path of exit route travel from this aisle was toward a work station where explosive (high-hazard) fuse is cut within the same room, without suitable partitions or barriers.  A fire occurred on 5/1/2024 within the wrapping room that emitted copious smoke throughout the other rooms of the building, where an employee died prior to evacuating.  Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.  Note: For assistance in determining the number of exit routes necessary for your workplace, consult NFPA 101-2009, Life Safety Code, or IFC-2009, International Fire Code (incorporated by reference, see § 1910.6).

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6452.00 · Current $4129.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not free and unobstructed. Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route.  a) The Factory Building at 182 West Greystone Rd in Old Bridge NJ 08857;  The aisle along the north outer wall in the wrapping room served as part of the exit route for employee(s) performing drilling and wrapping of smoke test canisters.  Tray rack carts positioned within the aisle space obstructed emergency egress travel and exposed employee(s) to hazard(s) of fire and smoke inhalation.  A fire occurred on 5/1/2024 within the wrapping room that emitted copious smoke throughout the other rooms of the building, where an employee died prior to evacuating.  Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4610.00 · Current $5901.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d): The employer did not complete a compilation of written process safety information, including information pertaining to the hazards of the highly hazardous chemicals used or produced by the process, information pertaining to the technology of the process, and information pertaining to the equipment in the process:  a) The Factory Building Process safety information including but not limited to chemical hazards, reactivity data, inventory limits, design codes, equipment, and safety systems, were not documented. Employees assembles smoke candles which includes a fuse containing black powder exposing employees to fire/smoke hazards. Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4610.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1): The employer did not develop and implement written operating procedures that provided clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process consistent the safety information and which address the elements listed in 29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(i) through (f)(1)(v):   a) The Factory building There were no written procedures for employees assembling smoke candles which includes a fuse containing black powder exposing employees to fire/smoke hazards. Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4610.00 · Current $2950.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(1): The employer did not perform an initial process hazard analysis (hazard evaluation) on processes covered by 29 CFR 1910.119:  a) The Factory Building  Employees assembled smoke candles which includes a fuse containing black powder exposing employees to fire/smoke hazards. A process hazard assessment was not conducted.   Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3687.00 · Current $2360.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(n): The employer did not establish and implement an emergency plan for the entire plant in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.38:  a) The Factory building  Employees assembled smoke candles which includes a fuse containing black powder exposing employees to fire/smoke hazards. The facility did not establish and implement a written emergency action plan outlining actions during an emergency and procedures for emergency evacuation. Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6452.00 · Current $8259.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which described how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200 paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training would be met.  a) The Factory building The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a written plan for communication of chemical hazard(s) to employees throughout the facility who worked with hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, zinc dust, zinc oxide, hexachloroethane, and fuses. These materials have oxidation / ignition properties posing hazard of fire as well as respiratory irritation from particulate inhalation. Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.

Issued

2024-10-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6452.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):The employer did not 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 that the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area. Information and training was not designed to cover all applicable categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals:  a) The Factory building Information on the requirements of the OSHA standard, as well as training on the hazardous properties and measures to take for protection, including emergency procedures to follow, was not provided to employees as part of a chemical hazard communication program.  Employees throughout the facility worked with hazardous chemicals including such as zinc dust, zinc oxide, hexachloroethane, and fuses that have oxidation / ignition properties posing hazard of fire as well as respiratory irritation from particulate inhalation.  Violation occurred on or before 5/1/2024.