OSHA Inspection: R. M. PALMER COMPANY

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $20,000

General-duty citation text

1910.38(f)(2)  When the employee's responsibilities under the plan change; and   a. Building 2 - Prior to and through March 24, 2023, the Employer failed to review its emergency action plan elements, such as fire, hazardous chemicals, and electrical emergencies, with its employees who were covered by the plan when the employees' responsibilities under the plan changed.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records. .

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,929 · Current $15,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":  a. Building 1 basement hot room - On or about March 24, 2023, the door leading from the hot room to Cherry Street was not marked with a sign identifying it as an exit. The nearest signed exit was in excess of 100 feet from the room requiring employees to pass by where the hazardous materials were stored.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,929 · Current $15,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used in continuous lengths without splice or tap:  a. Basement of building 1 line tech locker room - On or about March 24, 2023, the flexible cords were spliced into the heat tape that was being used to warm the chocolate pipes run between building 1 and 2, the splices were done in such a manner that the outer insulation was not maintained to prevent contact with internal wiring.   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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(2)    Employer did not complete an OSHA 301 Incident Report form, or an equivalent form, for each recordable injury or illness entered on the OSHA 300 log   Located at the (R. M. Palmer Company, West Reading Pennsylvania):  On or about March 24, 2023 , An incident Report (OSHA 301 or equivalent) for each injury or illness was not filled out  as required by the regulation:  a) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Foiler Operator ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   b) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Foiler Operator ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   c) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   d) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   e) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Maintenance ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   f) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Plant Manager ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   g) On or about  March 24, 2023, ( HR Director) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   h) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer)   - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   i) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Asst. Line Tech ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.   j) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Line Tech. ) - A 301 or equivalent was not filled out due to a work-related injury or illness to an employee resulting in the general recording criteria.    Corrected During Inspection

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): Each recordable injury or illness was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log  within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:  Located at the (R. M. Palmer Company, West Reading Pennsylvania):  On or about March 24, 2023 , An incident Report  for each injury or illness was not filled out  as required by the regulation:  a) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Foiler Operator )  was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   b) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Foiler Operator ) was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   c) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer ) was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   d) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer ) was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   e) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Maintenance )  was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.    f) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Plant Manager ) was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   g) On or about  March 24, 2023, ( HR Director) was fatality injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   h) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Packer)    was seriously  injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   i) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Asst. Line Tech ) was seriously  injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   j) On or about  March 24, 2023, (Line Tech. )  was seriously injured and the work related death was not entered on the OSHA 300 Log or  equivalent  within the required seven (7) days.   Corrected During Inspection

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours.  a. Recordkeeping - On or about May 26, 2023, the employer failed to provide a complete OSHA 300 form or equivalent for calendar year 2023 which was subpoenaed with an agreed upon due date with company attorney of May 25, 2023, at 8:00 am. The employer's failure to provide this document exceeds 4 hours after an agreed upon time and date with an authorized government representative.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(i): The building owner, facility owner, or employer did not determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM or PACM at the worksite and did not exercise due diligence in complying with these requirements to inform employers and employees about the presence and location of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos containing material (PACM):   a. Building 1 - On or about March 24, 2023, the employer as both the facility owner and employer did not determine the presence location, and quantity of ACM or PACM at the worksite and exercise diligence in informing employees about the presence and location of ACM.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 21, 2023

Abate by

Oct 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:   a. Building 1 - On or about March 24, 2023, the employer failed to train employees and temporary workers on the hazardous chemicals in the workplace including but not limited to ethyl alcohol.  b. Building 2 - "On or about March 24, 2023, the employer failed to train employees and temporary workers on the hazardous chemicals in the workplace including but not limited to ethyl alcohol.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Aug 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,232 · Current $2,232

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(a)(1): The OSHA 300 Log was not reviewed to verify that the entries are complete and accurate. Deficiencies were not corrected.    a. Recordkeeping - On or about January 26, 2023, the employer failed to ensure that the OSHA 300 Form was accurate in that case 3 was identified as other recordable cases under column J, however the employer documented that the injury resulted in lost work time of 11 days in column K and restriction/transfer of 20 days in column L.  b. Recordkeeping - On or about January 26, 2023, the employer failed to ensure that the OSHA 300 Form was accurate in that case 8 was identified as lost work time in column H, however the employer did not identify any lost workdays in column K, but did document job restrictions and transfer of 18 days in column L.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jul 26, 2023

Abate by

Aug 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,232 · Current $2,232

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(3):  A company executive as defined by 1904.32(b)(4) did not certify that he or she had examined the OSHA 300 Log and that he or she reasonably believed, based on his or her knowledge of the process by which the information was recorded, that the annual summary was correct and complete.  a. Recordkeeping - On or about January 26, 2023, the HR Manager signed the OSHA 300A annual summary however they were not the highest ranking official at the facility and did not meet the criteria of a Company executive as defined by 1904.32(b)(4), the CEO, Plant Manager and Executive Vice President all worked out of building 1.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.