OSHA Inspection: EXOTHERMIC MOLDING INC

Issued

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2486.00 · Current $1492.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a) Paint Department in Production, Exothermic Molding, Inc., 50 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, NJ 07033;  On or about 2/02/2022, painter(s) were provided and required to wear 3M 6200 series half-face air-purifying respirators equipped with chemical cartridges and pre-filters for droplet and solvent vapor inhalation protection; however the employer had no written plan that provided for medical clearance & training of users, or cleaning & care of respirators.

Issued

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1):The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a) Paint Department in Production, Exothermic Molding, Inc., 50 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, NJ 07033;  On or about 2/02/2022, painter(s) were provided and required to wear 3M 6200 series half-face air-purifying respirators equipped with chemical cartridges and pre-filters for droplet and solvent vapor inhalation protection without being provided a medical evaluation for determining whether each user is medically suited to wear negative-pressure respirator throughout their full work day.

Issued

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4144.00 · Current $2486.00 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) Press floor area of Production, Exothermic Molding, Inc., 50 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, NJ 07033;  On or about 2/02/2022,  an energy control (Lockout) program was not established that provided for safety of operator(s) and/or mechanic(s) whose service & maintenance work on hydraulic injection molding presses requires whole or partial body placement within the press point of operation. During service such as plastic "flash" residue removal by hand from plate surface, operator(s) have arms/hands, and often whole body, between the press jaws while the the machine is energized. Tool(s)/object(s) were observed wedged against one of the two-handed activation buttons of the controller box(es) of presses undergoing such cleaning; thus defeating an alternative safety measure requiring the operator to be outside the press jaws before initiating their hydraulic-powered movement. Operator(s) are exposed to limb amputation / crushing hazard from press motion while parts of employee's bodies are within press jaws.

Issued

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(2)(iii):New machines and equipment that were installed after January 2, 1990 were not provided with energy isolating devices designed to accept lockout devices:  a) Press floor area of Production, Exothermic Molding, Inc., 50 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, NJ 07033;  On or about 2/02/2022, electrical disconnects capable of accepting lockout devices were not provided on hydraulic injection molding presses #5 and #6 for energy isolation when operator(s) and/or mechanic(s) perform service & maintenance work. During service such as plastic "flash" residue removal by hand from plate surface, operator(s) have arms/hands, and often whole body, between the press jaws while the machine is energized.

Issued

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3315.00 · Current $1989.00 Reduced

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) Press Area of Production Floor, Exothermic Molding, Inc., 50 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, NJ 07033;  On or about 2/02/2022, wires providing power to the electrical controller box on the side of injection mold press #5 were not connected with a means of strain relief that prevents tension from being directly transmitted on terminal screws; thus exposing operator(s) to electrical shock hazard should stray current from loosened terminal end energize the controller housing.