OSHA Inspection: KOHLER COMPANY

Issued

Jun 27, 2003

Abate by

Jul 10, 2003

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment free
from recognized
hazards that were causing, or likely to cause, death or serious physical
harm to employees in
that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by metal plates
of a pressure cast
two-mold rim machine during its assembly/fabrication process.
Among other means, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct this hazard are:
1.Install end stops on the side rails of the upper carriage to prevent end
plates from
rolling off their support track.
2.Install stop bars and/or similar devices to prevent galvanized plates
from falling
off the upper carriage.  The installation of these devices may also assist
in
preventing the end plates from falling off the side rails of the upper
carriage once
the heavier gauge end plates and galvanized plates are bolted together.
3.Permanently secure plates to prevent and/or minimize their travel
distance to
inhibit them from falling off their support tracks and/or rails.
4.Secure the manual rotating center platen to prevent it from moving
freely.
5.Barricade the surrounding area at a safe distance to prevent individuals
from
entering the danger zone of plates falling and/or striking them until the
potential
struck by hazard has been eliminated.