OSHA Inspection: POLYMAX THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS, LLC DBA POLYMAX TPE

Issued

2023-07-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-08-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4687.00 · Current $4687.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): 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) On or about March 19, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees performing cleaning servicing and troubleshooting on the top level of the mezzanine, near production Line 2, were protected from falling off of an unprotected edge in excess of four feet above the lower level, around Hopper 3.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2023-07-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10938.00 · Current $11313.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   (a) On and before March 7, 2023, the verbal procedures utilized at the workplace to control hazardous pneumatic energy during servicing and cleaning did not did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules and techniques to be utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees performed any servicing or maintenance on machines. Employees performed cleanouts on the Coperion K-Tron K4G Six Unit Continuous Gravimetric Blending System and hopper for Production Line 2, where the unexpected energization, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2023-07-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10938.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  (a) On March 7, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts during servicing and cleaning of the Coperion K-Tron Inc. Powder Receiver 3 (Upper section of Hopper 3), P/N: S4-2415, contained within the Coperion Continuous Gravimetric Blending System, Project No. 1859004, on Production Line  2.   The employer did not implement equipment or procedures to isolate the Coperion K-Tron  Orifice Slide Gate, S/N: WOB1387424-7, from energy sources [per the 1910.147(d)(3) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving lock-out/tag-out device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation or residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.