OSHA Inspection: RPM INDUSTRIAL COATINGS GROUP, INC.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Abate by

Aug 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,513 · Current $4,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes must be arranged so that employees will not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel is effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers.  a.  Located in the Color Lab:  On or about March 6, 2025, the marked emergency exit path of egress in the facility's Color Lab led employees between high-hazard spraying and flammable liquid storage areas, which exposed them to potential fire hazards.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,513 · Current $4,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(d)(5)(v): ""General purpose public warehouses."" Storage shall be in accordance with Table H-14 or H-15 and in buildings or in portions of such buildings cut off by standard firewalls.   On or about March 6, 2025, Category 2 and 3 flammable liquids,  including toner base, stain base, concentrates, tins, sheens, and glazes, were not stored in accordance with Tables H-14 or H-15 in that:  a.  Located in the Color Lab:  Approximately 80 gallons of ARISTOMAX and ARISTOVAR Tint Base CV 20 Sheen Surface Preparer/Protectorant were stored in a pile adjacent to the paint mixing machine.   The employer did not enforce the 4' minimum pile separation distance between this pile and the adjacent pile, which contained approximately 100 gallons of HC Spray Stain Base Surface Preparer/Protectorant and Finisher's Edge Acetone.  Piles in the Color Lab were not separated by fire walls.  This method of storage exposed employees to potential fire hazards.  b.  Located in the Blending Room:  Approximately 110 gallons of ARISTOTHANE and ARISTOMAX urethane sheen and topcoat products were stored in a pile adjacent to the paint mixing machine.  The employer did not enforce the 4' minimum pile separation distance between this pile and the adjacent pile, which contained approximately 30 gallons of assorted paint, stain, and topcoat samples.  Piles in the Blending Room were not separated by fire walls.  This method of storage exposed employees to potential fire hazards.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,788 · Current $2,894 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(h)(8)(iii):"Waste and residues." Combustible waste material and residues in a building or operating area shall be kept to a minimum, stored in closed metal waste cans, and disposed of daily.  a.  On or about March 6, 2025, metal waste containers for excluded solvent wipes in the facility's Blending Room were overflowing and/or left open, which presented a potential fire hazard to employees.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,513 · Current $4,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(8):Separation of operations. Each spray booth shall be separated from other operations by not less than 3 feet, or by a greater distance, or by such partition or wall as to reduce the danger from juxtaposition of hazardous operations.  a.  Located in the Color Lab:  On or about March 6, 2025, Spray Booth #5 was located immediately adjacent to,  and within approximately 6" of, the storage pallet containing universal waste and non-hazardous waste, which created a potential fire hazard.  b.  Located in the Blending Room:  On or about March 6, 2025, Spray Booth #2 was located immediately adjacent to,  and within approximately 16" of ,the room's chemical measurement and storage station, which created a potential fire hazard.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,513 · Current $4,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(c)(2): There shall be no open flame or spark producing equipment in any spraying area nor within 20 feet thereof, unless separated by a partition.  a.  Located in the Color Lab:  On or about March 6, 2025, Spray Booth #6 was located within approximately 14" of the lab's electric drying rack, which created a potential fire hazard based on errant sparks and/or radiant heat.  b.  Located in the Blending Room:  On or about March 6, 2025, Spray Booth #2 was located approximately 53" from the room's electric drying rack, which created a potential fire hazard based on errant sparks and/or radiant heat.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Abate by

Aug 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,513 · Current $4,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(c)(6):  Electrical wiring, motors, and other equipment outside of but within twenty (20) feet of any spraying area, and not separated therefrom by partitions, shall not produce sparks under normal operating conditions and shall otherwise conform to the provisions of subpart S of this part for Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations.  a.  Located in the Color Lab:  On or about March 6, 2025, electrical equipment within the color lab, including disconnect switches, outlets, drying rack, and mixing station, was not rated for use in a hazardous location, which created a potential fire hazard.  b.  Located in the Blending Room:  On or about March 6, 2025, electrical equipment within the blending room, including disconnect switches, outlets, drying rack, and mixing station, was not rated for use in a hazardous location, which created a potential fire hazard.

Issued

Jul 22, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a.  On or about March 6, 2025, the employer did not maintain written records to certify that a hazard assessment had been conducted for technicians working in the Color Lab and Blending Room, covering the potential hazards associated with chemical exposure during the mixing, blending, testing, and spraying processes.