OSHA Inspection: LONE STAR INVESTMENTS, LLC

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards which were likely to  cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that, employees were exposed to crushing hazards associated with improper operation of automotive lifts:      a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to crushing and struck-by injuries while they used four hydraulic automotive lifts in an inappropriate manner as follows:    1.  The safety locking mechanisms (posts/bars) which were originally installed with the lifts were not functioning because critical pieces had been removed or broken.  Without such locks in place, there was nothing preventing the lifts from dropping if hydraulic pressure was accidently or suddenly lost.      2.  At least one lift did not have legibly posted information related to the load capacity, operating instructions or other pertinent manufacturer information and warnings.    3.  Employees operating the lifts were not provided with the training necessary to safely operate them.  The employer had never shown them the operators manual and the operators manual was not available at the job site.     4.  Lifts were not periodically inspected to ensure that they were properly maintained and functioning properly.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards which were likely to  cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards associated with improper operation of tire changers:      a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to crushing and struck-by injuries while they used three Coats Tire Changers in an inappropriate manner as follows:    1.  Employees did not receive adequate training in the use of the tire changers and were not required by the employer to ensure that the rim size and tire sized matched when changing and inflating tires.  The use of mismatched tires and rims during the process of seating the bead could cause explosions and injuries.         2.  Employees occasionally used more than 40psi while seating the bead in order to complete the process.  Pressures above this level could lead to explosions and injuries.      3.  Tire machines were not securely bolted to the floor to provide stability during the bead seating process.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $240.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards which were likely to  cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards associated with delivery of compressed gasses through PVC pipe:      a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from the bursting of PVC piping that was used to deliver compressed nitrogen at 150 psi to the shop area.  In the event of a pipe system failure, pipe shards could be launched into the shop.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1):  On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed to the building:      a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by or crushed-by hazards while they worked below materials that were stored on the ceiling of the shop restroom.  The employer had not posted the load rating for the roof/ceiling structure.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(b): Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse:         a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards because boxes of paperwork and other materials were stacked on metal shelving/rack units that did not have any planks or platforms between the bearers and railings to support the weight of the boxes.  Boxes were observed that had collapsed under their own weight and had slid into positions where they were likely to fall from heights of over 10 feet.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

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:    a)  On or before February 13, 2013, the employer did not verify, through written certification, that a hazard assessment of the workplace had been performed to determine the type of personal protective equipment necessary to protect employees from hazardous chemicals, flying chips and particles, and power tools.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to eye injuries while using bench grinders and other power tools without adequate eye protection.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a):  The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:       a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to burns and absorption of chemicals through the skin because the employer did not provide gloves or other hand protection while they used ZEP Concrete Degreaser (corrosive) to clean the shop floor and used a variety of degreasing chemicals to clean auto parts.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to eye injuries while they used corrosive chemicals such as ZEP Granular Concrete Floor Degreaser without access to a suitable eyewash facility in the immediate area.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

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)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to amputation injuries because a panel on the Coats Tire Changer had been removed and employees could have caught their fingers in the unguarded belt and pulley.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to cuts, bruises and other injuries produced by the breakage of abrasive grinding wheels while they used a bench grinder which did not have a work rest and had about a half inch gap between the housing and wheel where the work rest should have been located.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9):  The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to cuts, bruises and other injuries produced by the breakage of abrasive grinding wheels while they used a bench grinder which did not have a tongue guard and had about a half inch gap between the housing and wheel where the tongue guard should have been located.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers identified for the purpose:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical shock while they worked around a junction/outlet box on the shop wall adjacent to the office which did not have an adequately installed cover.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:                                                                 a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical shock and fire hazards while they used a damaged cord which powered a refrigerator in the shop.   The cord had strained and damaged insulation at the joint where the cord entered the plug.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:      a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, the employer failed to develop and implement a hazard communication program in order to minimize hazardous chemical exposures for employees that used a variety of chemicals to perform tire and auto repair work.

Issued

2013-03-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not free and unobstructed. Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route:    a)  On or about February 13, 2013, and at times prior, employees were exposed to fire hazards because the employer allowed storage of a tool cabinet, table and other materials in front of a door which was marked as an exit.