OSHA Inspection: K & S TIRE RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,931 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling:    a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned address, employees performing service and/or maintenance on the CM Shredder's platform were exposed to fall hazards greater than six (6) feet due to the absence of guardrails extending over the operator's control panel.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(1):  The employer did not ensure that guardrail systems met the requirement that the top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, that are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the CM Shredder's platform, the employer did not ensure the top edge of the guardrail was 42 inches in height, plus or minus 3 inches.  The platform's top guard rail was severely bent downward; measured at approximately 36 inches.  Employees were thereby exposed to fall hazards.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(2)(i):  The employer did not ensure that guardrails met the requirement that mid rails that are installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking-working surface.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the CM Shredder's platform, the employer did not ensure a mid rail was installed, fully extending across the guardrail system.  Employees were thereby exposed to fall hazards.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $7,415 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, the employer did not ensure an energy control program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections was established for employees performing service and maintenance on machines including, but not limited to, CM Shredder, conveyor systems and sidewall cutter.  The employees were thereby exposed to hazards associated with the unexpected energization of equipment.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D):   Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device prior to working on the machine or equipment:  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, middle of the Outside Yard, personal lockout or tagout devices were not attached to a group lockout device when employees performing service and/or maintenance activities, to include repairing the CM Shredder's conveyor belt.  Employees were thereby exposed to hazards of unexpected re-energization of equipment.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i):  The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned address, employees operating a Toyota Model 8FGCU26, Serial #04505 Forklift Truck had not been trained and evaluated to ensure competency in the operation of the equipment, thereby exposing employees to struck-by and crush-by hazards.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2):  Guard(s) on machine(s) were not affixed to the machine or secured elsewhere when attachment to the machine was not possible:   a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, the employer did not ensure that all guards on the CM Shredder's conveyor systems were affixed and/or secured in a manner that would prevent employees from removing the machine guards and having any part of their body near the ingoing nip-point rollers during the operating cycle.  Employees were thereby exposed to amputation hazards associated with unsecured machine guarding.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,931 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(ii):  All guards for inclined belts were not arranged in such a manner that a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet is maintained between belt and floor at any point outside of guard.  a.  On or about April 29, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, the employer failed to ensure guards were installed on the underside of the CM Shredder's associated conveyor belt(s).  Employees required to walk under unguarded conveyor systems were exposed to caught-in hazards associated with moving parts.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(m)(1)(ii):  All metal was not free from burrs and sharp edges.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, employees required to perform service and maintenance, to include but not limited to removing excess rubber from the CM Shredder's conveyor belts, were exposed to cuts and lacerations from the sharp edges of the expanded metal machine guarding.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2):  Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, in the administrative office, employees were exposed to potential fire hazards in that a relocatable power tap was used in conjunction with a flexible cord set (extension cord) and a triple outlet adaptor to supply power to two televisions and an electrical power adapter.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1):  Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, the employer did not ensure that the working space around the electrical panel box was provided and maintained at least three feet of clearance.  Employees were thereby exposed to trip and fall hazards associated with a blocked and/or obstructed electrical panel box.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(B):  Flexible cords and cables where used were run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors:  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, in the administrative office, employees were exposed to electrical hazards, in that, an extension cord that was supplying power from an electrical outlet in the administrative office was run up into the ceiling to provide power to a heating cable located in adjacent warehouse.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $1,655 · Current $1,655

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(6): The Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) for the previous year was not posted between February 1 and April 30.  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, at the above-mentioned workplace, the employer failed to post an OSHA 300A Form, Annual Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses for calendar year 2024.

Issued

May 12, 2025

Abate by

May 30, 2025

Penalty

Initial $930 · Current $930

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6):  The employer did not certify that each powered industrial truck operator had been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  a.  On or about March 19, 2025, in the facility, the employer did not have written certification of forklift training that included the name of the operator(s), the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.

Issued

Apr 1, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $1,655 · Current $840 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.4(a):  The employer did not record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case that resulted in the general recording criteria on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.   a.  On or about October 4, 2024, at the above-mentioned workplace, an employee sustained a work-related injury resulting in a left broken arm and subsequent hospitalization.   The employer did not record employee's workplace injury on the OSHA 300 Injury and Illness log for calendar year 2024.

Issued

Apr 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $5,960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2):  The employer did not report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in in-patient hospitalization, amputation or the loss of an eye.  a.  On or about October 4, 2024, at the above-mentioned address, an employee sustained a work-related injury resulting in a broken arm and hospitalization.   The employer did not report the work-related injury resulting in the in-patient hospitalization to OSHA within the required twenty-four (24) hours.