OSHA Inspection: KAFKA CONVEYORS & EQUIPMENT INC

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Abate by

Sep 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,628 · Current $3,376 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(iv):  Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters shall be protected with approved automatic sprinklers:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not protect the downstream and upstream sides of filters in the spray booth with approved automatic sprinklers. Employees were using Category 2 flammable liquids in spraying operations in the spray booth.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(6):Frontal area. Each spray booth having a frontal area larger than 9 square feet shall have a metal deflector or curtain not less than 2 1/2 inches deep installed at the upper outer edge of the booth over the opening.  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the spray booth with a frontal area of approximately 80 square feet had a metal deflector or curtain not less than 2 1/2 inches deep installed at the upper outer edge of the booth over the opening.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(2):  All spraying areas shall be kept as free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues as practical, with cleaning conducted daily if necessary. Scrapers, spuds, or other such tools used for cleaning purposes shall be of nonsparking material:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure the spray area was kept as free as practical from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues. Overspray from spray finishing operations had been allowed to accumulate on the interior walls and floor of the spray area.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(7): "No smoking" signs in large letters on contrasting color background shall be conspicuously posted at all spraying areas and paint storage rooms.  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer had not conspicuously posted "No smoking" signs around the spray booth room and spray area room, exposing employees to fire and burn hazards.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,628 · Current $3,376 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.  The employer required employees to wear 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator when using Category 2 flammable liquids in spraying operations.    All provisions of 29CFR 1910.134(c) through (o) must be covered in a respiratory protection program.  Key elements include but are not limited to the following:      1.  Selection of respirators for employees.     2.  Medical evaluations for employees.     3.  Fit testing.     4.  Training and information.     5.  Recordkeeping.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. Note:  The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not provide medical evaluations for employees prior to requiring employees to wear 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator when using Category 2 flammable liquids in spraying operations.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i):  Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure a Painter's 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator was cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition. The employee's respirator had accumulations of overspray from when the employee was using Category 2 flammable liquids in spraying operations in the spray booth and spray area.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i):  All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure the Painter employee stored their 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator to protect them from contamination, dust, and damaging chemicals. The Painter's respirator was hanging from the strap on the workbench in the paint area after the last use.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(ii)(B):  The employer shall ensure that respirator inspections include a check of elastomeric parts for pliability and signs of deterioration:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that a Painter employee's 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator had been inspected to check the elastomeric parts for pliability and signs of deterioration. The respirator's elastomeric parts could not be inspected because of accumulations of overspray from Category 2 flammable liquids.

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not provide effective training to an employee who was required to wear a 3M full-face, tight-fitting, elastomeric air-purifying respirator when the employee conducted spray finishing in a spray booth  All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1) through (k)(6) shall be provided to employees wearing respirators. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:  1) Reason for respirators use 2) Respirator limitations and capabilities 3) Effective respirator inspection and use 4) Procedures for maintenance, care and storage of respirators 5) Recognition of signs/symptoms that may limit respirator use

Issued

Jul 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  On or about April 8, 2025, at the establishment located at 214501 St Hwy 107, Mosinee, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that a Workplace Hazard Assessment was certified for the tasks that employees do that require PPE. The employer had assessed the workplace and determined that steel-toed shoes, hearing protection, eye protection, and respiratory protection were necessary for the safety of employees, but could not provide a signed, written certification of the assessment.