OSHA Inspection: COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGIES CO. LLC

Issued

Nov 5, 2024

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $12,421 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  (1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. (2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. (3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s). (4) Lockout or tagout device application. (4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (4)(ii) Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position. (6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and de-energization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a) On or before 7/18/2024, the employer does not ensure that (d)(1) through (d)(4) and (d)(6) is followed by employees performing cleaning, sanitation, and inspections on the Lowe Industries Hopper located on the mezzanine above the cell #1 press. Employees were not properly securing each energy source prior to starting work, including the electrical disconnect.  Employees were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards associated with the unexpected  startup of the Lowe Industries Hopper (Model #C-16 H. Duty).

Issued

Nov 5, 2024

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $24,842 · Current $16,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.   a) On or about 7/18/2024, the employer did not ensure energy control procedures were developed, documented and utilized by each authorized employee assigned to perform servicing and maintenance activities that included cleaning of equipment such as the Lowe Industries Hopper.  The Composite Technologies Co. LLC, dba CTC Plastics was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1362672, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 3/27/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 401 North Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45404.

Issued

Nov 5, 2024

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $24,842 · Current $16,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  (A) The periodic inspection shall be performed by an authorized employee other than the ones(s) utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected. (B) The periodic inspection shall be conducted to correct any deviations or inadequacies identified. (C) Where lockout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.  a) On or before 7/18/2024 the employer did not conduct periodic inspection of each energy control procedures annually, for equipment such as but not limited to; the energy control procedures for the Cell 1 Press, to ensure that the documented machine specific procedure was adequate to prevent exposure to rotating parts of the hoppers. Nor did the periodic inspections included each authorized employee of that employee's responsibilities to lockout the energy sources such as the electrical disconnect to prevent caught in hazards for each of the rotating augers located on the hoppers.  The Composite Technologies Co. LLC, dba CTC Plastics was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1362672, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 3/27/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 401 North Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45404.

Issued

Nov 5, 2024

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $24,842 · Current $0 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. The training shall include the following:   (A):Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a) On or before 7/18/2024, the employer did not provide each machine operator of the Lowe Industries Hopper (Model #C-16 H. Duty) with authorized employee training, in that employees were not trained to understand how to control energy sources prior to the start of cleaning operations on the hoppers. Employees did not receive the training necessary to recognize each hazardous energy source such as electric and how and when to secure each energy source for the mixing auger such as when performing cleaning of the hopper.  The Composite Technologies Co. LLC, dba CTC Plastics was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1362672, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 3/27/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 401 North Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45404.

Issued

Nov 5, 2024

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $996 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(iv): The employer shall certify that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up to date. The certification shall contain each employee's name and dates of training.  a) On or before 7/18/2024, the employer did not ensure that the lockout/tagout training conducted for each employee authorized to perform cleaning operations on machines such as the Lowe Industries Hopper (Model #C-16 H. Duty) had been certified and kept up to date.