OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN FIBERTECH CORPORATION

Issued

2020-08-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-09-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8482.00 · Current $10000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by one or more of the following:  guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:    (a) Grinder Room - Employees climbed onto and stood on the flat steel frame that covers the ram portion of the Cresswood Recycling Systems hopper-fed wood grinder, model HF70125A, serial number 1060905, in order to look into the grinder's hopper.  While standing on this surface, employees did not use any fall protection, exposing the employees to the hazard of falling 5 feet 3.5 inches to the concrete floor, on or about July 1, 2020.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-08-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-09-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10603.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:    (a) Grinder Room - The employer did not post signs identifying the hopper of the Cresswood Recycling Systems hopper-fed wood grinder, model HF70125A, serial number 1060905, as a permit-required confined space, exposing employees to hazards, including, but not limited to struck by and caught in, on or about April 2020.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-08-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12723.00 · Current $12500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:    (a) Grinder Room - On the Cresswood Recycling Systems hopper-fed wood grinder, model HF70125A, serial number 1060905, employees cleaned out the bearing pocket (on the side of the grinder that faces the indoor entry to the Grinder Room) using a 23-inch long 0.25-inch diameter metal rod and a compressed air nozzle inserted into the 1-inch by 5.5-inch bearing pocket opening to loosen and remove wood debris.  The employees did not apply lockout/tagout when performing this cleaning task, exposing employees to a struck by hazard, as occurred on or about June 23, 2020 when an employee's fingers got struck by the metal rod when this metal rod contacted moving parts of the grinder, resulting in amputation injuries to the employee's fingers.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-08-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-09-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    (a) Grinder Room - The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program, and employees entered the hopper of the Cresswood Recycling Systems hopper-fed wood grinder, model HF70125A, serial number 1060905, to do work, exposing employees to hazards, including, but not limited to struck by and caught in, on or about April 2020.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.