As usual, after terminating an employee we had an OSHA inspection. Happens almost every time. First day of the inspection he found: no machine guarding issues. After market spray bottles labeled with magic marker for Windex & Simple Green (considered a serious violation because they were not in their original containers with full labeling, fine $3,000) Cord reels suspended from overhead on steel framework and connected to the ceiling mounted outlets by a 6' extension cord. Because cord reels are considered extension cords they violated the rule about using more than one extension cord fine $3,000.
Our MSDS book was up to date, indexed and available in the shop. Problem: MSDS sheets are no longer recognized you have to have the ones with the new name SDS and the binder must use that name. We had just put the new format SDS sheets in place of the older MSDS sheets as we got them. You must also have a record of training all employees on the use of the SDS format, fine $3,000. Lockout Tagout kit, one padlock missing a key, not enough entries, fine $1200. The $3000 fined items were considered "serious violations." After official negotiation the total was reduced to $7,000.
Two OSHA inspectors came back a 2nd day and went through all of our training records. They found that the written tests given at the end of forklift training did not have a signature and date under the employees name. There was a test date at the top of the form only. Steps to access the air to air cooler platform, used when cleaning, had non-compliant rise to run. The oldest part of the building didn't have lit exit signs. These items did not show up on the final list.
All employees were interrogated, one at a time, in a private office. With 12 employees this took 4 hours. Two employees refused.
Two inspectors came back a 3rd time to watch equipment be run. They asked employees about their training and setup procedures. They left W/O comment.
If I remember correctly, with less than 10 employees you are not subject to OSHA fines unless you have a serious accident. May be time to terminate.
Our MSDS book was up to date, indexed and available in the shop. Problem: MSDS sheets are no longer recognized you have to have the ones with the new name SDS and the binder must use that name. We had just put the new format SDS sheets in place of the older MSDS sheets as we got them. You must also have a record of training all employees on the use of the SDS format, fine $3,000. Lockout Tagout kit, one padlock missing a key, not enough entries, fine $1200. The $3000 fined items were considered "serious violations." After official negotiation the total was reduced to $7,000.
Two OSHA inspectors came back a 2nd day and went through all of our training records. They found that the written tests given at the end of forklift training did not have a signature and date under the employees name. There was a test date at the top of the form only. Steps to access the air to air cooler platform, used when cleaning, had non-compliant rise to run. The oldest part of the building didn't have lit exit signs. These items did not show up on the final list.
All employees were interrogated, one at a time, in a private office. With 12 employees this took 4 hours. Two employees refused.
Two inspectors came back a 3rd time to watch equipment be run. They asked employees about their training and setup procedures. They left W/O comment.
If I remember correctly, with less than 10 employees you are not subject to OSHA fines unless you have a serious accident. May be time to terminate.