OSHA Inspection: THUNDER TOOL CORP.

Issued

Nov 10, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips andsparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.    Production area/ Northwest - On an about August 12, 2011, the chuck on the Clausing Colchester metal cutting lathe was not completely guarded, thereby exposing employees to the hazards of rotating parts.

Issued

Nov 10, 2011

Abate by

Feb 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall beguarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards,shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.    a. Shop area - On or about August 12, 20111, the following bress brakes dit not have the points of operations completely guarded to prevent employees from reaching into hazardous areas.    1. Cincinnati  (serial# 53628)  2. Pacific   3. Haco     b. On or about August 12, 2011, two employees were working on the Haco press brake with only one foot pedal, thereby exposing employees to injuries associated with point of operation hazards.    c. On or about August 12, 2011, the ends on the following press brakes were not guarded to protect employees from  crushing/amputation hazards.    1. Cincinnati (serial #53628)  2. Pacific   3. Haco

Issued

Nov 10, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4):  Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with amaximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.    a.  Shop area On or about August 12, 2011, the Betco pedestal grinder did not have a workrest for the right grinding wheel, thereby exposing the employees to the hazards associated with rotating abrasive wheels.    b.Shop area - On or about August 12, 2011, the distance between the left side of the abrasive wheel periheries and the adjustable workrest on the Betco pedestal grinder exceeded one-eighth of an inch, thereby exposing employees to the hazards of flying partiicles in the event the grinding wheel shattered.

Issued

Nov 10, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of thisparagraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to theconstantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs(b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of theperipheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)    Shop area - On or about August 12, 2011, the distance between the abrasive wheel peripheries and the adjustable tongue guard on the left and right side and of the Batco pedestal grinder exceeded one-fourth of an inch, thereby exposing employees to the hazards of flying particles in the event the grinding wheel shattered.