OSHA Inspection: PROFUSION INDUSTRIES, LLC.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,511 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3): Holes. The employer must ensure:  29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used.  a. On or about September 10, 2024, employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 5 feet 4 inches when the top of the ladderway, used to access the calender 5 mezzanine, was open without any protection from falling into the opening at the top of the ladder.  b. On or about September 10, 2024. employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 6 feet 8 inches when the top of the ladderway used to access the printer 7 mezzanine did not have a self-closing gate or offset.  c. On or about November 12, 2024, employees were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 10 feet when the access opening to the ladderway, used to access the #5 Calender Windup pit, did not have a self-closing gate.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.  NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.  a. On or about November 9, 2024, the employer failed to inform employees of the existence, location and dangers of the # 5 calender Windup pit. The space did not have a sign or any other means identifying it as a permit-required confined space.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(7)(iii):The employer shall document the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space have been eliminated, through a certification that contains the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person making the determination. The certification shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized representative.  a. On or about November 9, 2024, the employer did not certify that all hazards had been eliminated prior to entry into the permit-required confined space of the #5 Calender Windup pit.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $9,000 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. On or about August 16, 2024, the employer did not ensure the control of hazardous energy procedure #5 Calender clearly and specifically outlined the techniques to safely control the hazardous energy and protect employees from the unexpected energization or release of stored energy of the equipment. The procedure did not include all the different types of energy and their magnitudes, including steam and hydraulic energies, the methods to control all energies, the type and location of all energy isolating devices, and all methods to verify isolation of the equipment.  b. On or about August 16, 2024, the employer did not ensure the control of hazardous energy procedure for #7 Calender clearly and specifically outlined the techniques to safely control the hazardous energy and protect employees from the unexpected energization or release of stored energy of the equipment. The procedure did not include all the different types of energy, including steam, and did not include the energies magnitudes, the methods to control all energies, the type and location of all energy isolating devices, and all methods to verify isolation of the equipment.  c. On or about September 9, 2024, the employer did not ensure the control of hazardous energy procedure for #7 Printer clearly and specifically outlined the techniques to safely control the hazardous energy and protect employees from the unexpected energization or release of stored energy of the equipment. The procedure did not include all the different types of energy, including steam, and hydraulics, and did not include the energies magnitudes, the methods to control all energies, the type and location of all energy isolating devices, and all methods to verify isolation of the equipment.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $9,000 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. On or about August 16, 2024, the employer failed to conduct periodic inspections, in order to identify inadequacies and correct any deviations, for the energy control procedures for #5 Calender, #7 Calender, and #7 Printer, which exposed the employees performing service and maintenance activities to caught-in, struck-by and/or thermal hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.212(a)(3)(ii) The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:   a. On or about August 19, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-in hazards by providing authorized employee training on #7 Calender.  Calender Operator #1, who performed servicing and maintenance covered activities, such as startup/threading and frosting of calender rollers, was not trained on the recognition of all the hazardous energy sources, and their magnitudes, present in #7 Calender, as well as the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  b. On or about September 3, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-in and caught-between hazards by providing authorized employee training on #7 Printer. Printer Operator #2, who performed service and maintenance activities, such as, cleaning of rollers and unjamming of material from equipment was not trained on the recognition of all the hazardous energy sources, and their magnitudes, methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control, and the tasks that required the control of hazardous energy.  c. On or about August 19, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-in hazards by providing authorized employee training on #7 Calender. Calender Operator #2, who performed servicing and maintenance covered activities, such as startup/threading and frosting of calender rollers, was not trained on the recognition of all the hazardous energy sources, and their magnitudes, present in #7 Calender, as well as the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  d. On or about September 3, 2024, the employer did not protect employees from caught-in and caught-between hazards by providing authorized employee training on #7 Printer. Printer Operator #1, who performed service and maintenance activities, such as, cleaning of rollers and unjamming of material from equipment was not trained on the recognition of all the hazardous energy sources, and their magnitudes, methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control, and the tasks that required the control of hazardous energy.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.212(a)(3)(ii) The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:   a. On or about August 29, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with rotating parts during the servicing work of cleaning of the print roller at Printer #7. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  b. On or about September 3, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with rotating parts and ingoing nip points during the servicing work of the cleaning of the print roller at Printer #7. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  c. On or about September 3, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with rotating parts and ingoing nip points during the servicing work of unjamming of material from rollers at Printer #7. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  d. On or about August 29, 2024, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with rotating parts while replacing cutting knives at the roller die. The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  e. On or about August 16, 2024, employees were exposed to in-going nip point hazards associated with the moving rollers on #5 Calender while performing activities such as startup/threading, frosting and cleaning the rollers with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure that energy control applications steps were implemented as the #5 Calender was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented.  f. On or about August 16, 2024, employees were exposed to in-going nip point hazards associated with the moving rollers on #7 Calender while performing activities such as setup, frosting and cleaning the rollers with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure that energy control applications steps were implemented as the #7 Calender was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $8,942 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i):Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.  a. On or about September 4, 2024, a lockout device was not affixed to the electrical isolating device for the #7 Printer. Employees could not verify that the 480 VAC electrical panel was deenergized, exposing them to machine related hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Abate by

Feb 28, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $10,000 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.  a. On or about September 24, 2024, located at the Roller Die Windup, the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points created as film material coiled onto a rotating cardboard roll.  b. On or about September 3, 2024, located at Printer 7, the employer did not ensure rotating rollers of vertical roller stations were guarded while employees inspected threaded printer material, thereby exposing employees to caught-in hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $14,895

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.  a. On or about September 24, 2024, employees were exposed to a caught-in hazard between the 1/4-inch round belt and pulleys on the left and right side of the front of #5 Calender while performing activities such as startup/threading, frosting, cleaning the rolls with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure that the rotating pulleys, located 36 inches from the floor, were guarded.  b. On or about September 24, 2024, employees were exposed to a caught-in hazard between the 1/4-inch flat belt and pulley located on the left side side, at the front of #7 Calender, while performing startup/threading, frosting, and cleaning the rolls with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure that the rotating pulley, located at approximately 70 inches from the floor, was guarded.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(3)(i):Vertical and inclined belts shall be enclosed by a guard conforming to standards in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.  a. On or about September 24, 2024, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards of the vertical belt, located on the right side on the front of #5 Calender, while performing activities such as startup/threading, frosting, and cleaning the rolls with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure the vertical belt, located at a height of approximately 36 inches from the floor, was guarded.  b. On or about September 24, 2024, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards of the vertical belt, located on the left side on the front of #5 Calender, while performing activities such as startup/threading, frosting, and cleaning the rolls with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure the vertical belt, located at a height of approximately 36 inches from the floor, was guarded.  c. On or about September 24, 2024, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards of the inclined belt, located on the left side on the front of #7 Calender, while performing activities such as startup/threading, frosting, cleaning the rolls with stearic acid. The employer did not ensure the inclined belt, located at a height of approximately 70 inches from the floor, was guarded.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $10,641

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A):The depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts may not be less than indicated in Table S-1. Distances shall be measured from the live parts if they are exposed or from the enclosure front or opening if they are enclosed;  a. On or about September 10, 2024, the working space in front of the electrical circuit breaker panel for the printer 7 was 24 1/2 inches, which was less than the required 36 inches, due to the placement of a stack rack containing plastic scrap/waste.

Issued

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B): The width of working space in front of the electric equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the working space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels; and  a. On or about September 10, 2024, the working space in front of the electrical circuit breaker panel for Printer #7 was 24 ? inches, which did not permit the panel door to open at least 90-degrees which exposed employees to electrical shock hazards up 480 VAC.