OSHA Inspection: SYLVAN AMERICA, INC.

Issued

Mar 24, 2026

Abate by

Apr 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $6,400 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)  Facility, Blender Room, Blender #1, Steam Side:  On or about February 25, 2026,  the employees were not tied off as they went up the top flight of steps and once that got to the top platform they did not tie off nor wear personal fall protection for the last 6 to 7 months when climbing these steps nor on the top platform.  In addition, when they employees did wear fall protection (the last time was about 6 months ago) they only tied off at the top platform and only when they reached the far (from the stairs) top handrail of the platform.  The distance that the employees walked and were exposed to the open side (Blender #1 side) was about 4 feet.  The fall hazard to the employees was up to approximately 20 feet onto the concrete floor of the Blender Room.

Issued

Mar 24, 2026

Abate by

Apr 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $8,276 · Current $4,200 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)  Facility, Loading Station:  On or about February 25, 2026, there were about 9 inches of auger (approximately 8 inches in diameter) that was not guarded and employees could reach into the rotating auger and be injured.

Issued

Mar 24, 2026

Abate by

Apr 17, 2026

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $2,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(a):  Hand and portable powered tools or equipment were not kept in safe condition:  (a)  Facility, Blender Room, Top of Blender #1 and #2:  On or about February 25, 2026, the sockets would easily fall off of the ratchets.  These sockets could easily fall from the platforms of any of the four platforms to the two blenders and hit an employee on the floor.

Issued

Mar 24, 2026

Abate by

Apr 3, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(f)(5): Danger tags were not used where an immediate hazard presented a threat of death or serious injury to employees:  (a)  Facility, Blender Room, Glycol Side:  On or about February 25, 2026, the stairs to the top platform did not have any signage on them to warn employees not to go onto this top platform.