OSHA Inspection: RITTAL LLC

Issued

Jan 14, 2025

Abate by

Feb 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $9,679 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(3): Guardrail systems are capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge, at any point along the top rail;  a) On or about August 18, 2024, the employer did not ensure that the portable guardrail system located in the Black E-cost Tank 1 area had the capability of withstanding a force of at least 200 lbs, applied in a downward and/or outward direction.  An employee fell 10 feet into the empty tank when the guardrails came off its brackets falling downward with the employee.

Issued

Jan 14, 2025

Abate by

Mar 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.30(a)(1): Fall hazards.  Before any employee is exposed to a fall hazard, the employer must provide training for each employee who uses personal fall protection systems or who is required to be trained as specified elsewhere in this subpart.  Employers must ensure employees are trained in the requirements of this paragraph on or before May 17, 2017.  a) On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not ensure that each employee exposed to fall hazards when working around portable guardrail system not secured in place in areas such as but not limited to the guardrail system located in the Black E-Coat tank 1 were adequately trained on the type of personal fall protection that should be used when exposed to the potential fall hazard of 10', nor were they trained on where the location of where the anchor points that can withstand 3,600 pounds of force for each employee should be attached prior to working in the area and removing the guardrail system.

Issued

Jan 14, 2025

Abate by

Mar 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $8,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.140(c)(8): Personal fall protection system. General requirements. D-rings, snap-hooks, and carabiners must be proof tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or incurring permanent deformation.  The gate strength of snap-hooks and carabiners, must be proof tested to 3,600 lbs. (16 kN) in all directions.  a) On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were connecting snap-hooks that have been proof tested to sustained at least 3,600 lbs. in all directions, in that employees were using snap-hooks to anchor their harnesses around inside the Black E-coat Tank 1.  The snap-hooks were being attached to any metal piece they find within reach of the area where they were going to be working  exposing employees to an approximate 10 ft. fall.

Issued

Jan 14, 2025

Abate by

Mar 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.140(c)(13)(i): Personal fall protection system. General requirements. Anchorages, except window cleaners' belt anchors covered by paragraph (e) of this section, must be: Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) for each employee attached;   a) On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were connecting snap-hooks that have been proof tested to sustained at least 3,600 lbs. in all directions to anchor points that were capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds, in that employees were using snap-hooks to anchor their harness when working around the railing inside the Black E-coat Tank 1. Snap-hooks were being attached to any metal piece they find within reach of the area where they are going to be working from, exposing employees to an approximate 10 ft. fall.

Issued

Jan 14, 2025

Abate by

Feb 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). General. Periodic inspection. 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 about August 23, 2024, in the Black E-Coat Tank 1, the employer did not ensure that the periodic inspection for energy control procedures were performed at least annually for equipment such as but not limited to; the energy control procedures for the Black E-Coat Tank 1 to ensure that the documented area (Black E-Coat tank 1) specific procedure was adequate to prevent exposure to strike by hazard and electricity, while performing maintenance work, plumbing work or fishing parts that fall into the paint tank.