OSHA Inspection: POLYCHEM CORPORATION

Issued

2015-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $4200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer failed to furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm, in that employees were potentially exposed to crushing and/or struck-by hazards from reels of coiled paper that measured 6 ft. in diameter and weigh up to 560 lbs.:        a. On or before February 06, 2015 employees tasked with restocking reels of coiled paper on the corner board line were not protected from a crushing and/or struck by hazard. The coiled paper (which can measure up to 6 ft. in diameter with a weight at 560 lbs.) was frequently hand rolled across the flooring, the instability and awkwardness of handling large reels of paper has the potential to result in the paper falling over thus exposing the employees to a struck by or crushing hazard.       b. On February 06, 2015, while in the process of removing a reel of paper from the staging area for placement on the production line; an employee was injured when the paper fell over, trapping the his left leg and ankle underneath.

Issued

2015-07-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6000.00 · Current $3600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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.       On or before 02/09/2015, the employer failed to ensure that the corner board machinery was adequately guarded. Actuated by a panel of push button controls, the automated machinery is operated in continuous mode. Openings in the guarding found at different points of the line measured approximately 6 inches and did not prevent the operator(s) from being able to place parts of the body through the guards, potentially contacting the rotating parts or ingoing nip points.