OSHA Inspection: ASTRO PLASTIC CONTAINERS INC.

Issued

Sep 17, 2025

Abate by

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,621 · Current $3,311 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i):Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, 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 is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  a.) Production - On or about September 10, 2025, and days prior to, employees used a 5-foot step ladder to perform service and maintenance tasks such as cleaning, inspecting, vacuuming, and replacing filters on the Bekum H-155 Molding Machines while standing on a platform, approximately 53-inches high on the machine.  Employees were thereby exposed to fall hazards as they were exposed to an unguarded side more than 4 feet above the lower level.

Issued

Sep 17, 2025

Abate by

Dec 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,621 · Current $3,311 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.)  Production - On or about June 4, 2025, an employer performed set-up on the Bekum H1-55 Machine No. 12.  The employer failed to ensure an energy control program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections was established for employees performing service and maintenance on machines, including but not limited to, the Osmo Novax M Printing Machines and Bekum H-155 Molding Machines, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with rotating and moving parts.  b.) Production - On or about September 10, 2025, an employee performed the service and maintenance task of inspecting the filter on Bekum H-155 Molding Machine No. 8.  The employer failed to ensure an energy control program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections was established for employees performing service and maintenance on machines, including but not limited to, the Osmo Novax M Printing Machines and Bekum H-155 Molding Machines, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with rotating and moving parts.  c.) Production - On or about September 10, 2025, an employee bypassed a guard on the OSMO Print Machine,  Serial No. 130232304 (#4), to add paint to the print screens.  The employer failed to ensure an energy control program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections was established for employees performing service and maintenance on machines, including but not limited to, the Osmo Novax M Printing Machines and Bekum H-155 Molding Machines, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with rotating and moving parts.

Issued

Sep 17, 2025

Abate by

Dec 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,621 · Current $3,311 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.) Production Floor - On or about June 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employee(s) who operate powered industrial vehicles including the Mitsubishi, Model FGC18N, Serial No. AF81F42727 and Mitsubishi, Model FGC18N, Serial No. AF81F41924 forklifts, were properly trained, evaluated and certified to perform the tasks in a safe manner, thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Sep 17, 2025

Abate by

Oct 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,621 · Current $3,311 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:  a.)  Warehouse - On or about June 4, 2025, the employer failed to provide effective guarding on the Bekum H-155 Molding Machines.  Employees working at or near the molding machines are exposed to broken bones, amputation, and/or crush hazards, as employees are required to clean and /or stand near the unguarded machine openings.

Issued

Sep 17, 2025

Abate by

Oct 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $1,324 · Current $662 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.)  Astro Plastic Containers Inc., Bolingbrook, IL - On or about April 19, 2025, a recordable injury occurred when an employee slipped while collecting trash from the production floor and sustained a shoulder injury.  The employer failed to record the workplace injury on the OSHA 300 Log for calendar year 2025.