OSHA Inspection: NICHOLS TILLAGE TOOLS, INC.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    (a)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Power Shearing Shears Underdrive Series, Niagara Model 96, Serial 64973 was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. Employees were observed placing their fingers underneath the guard that was in place while fabricating metal pieces. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (b)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Pacific Hyd Shear was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. Employees were observed placing their fingers underneath the guard that was in place while fabricating metal pieces. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (c)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-60 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (d)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-75 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (e)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-104 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (f)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-110 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (g)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-150 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (h)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-250 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (i)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bliss C-300 Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (j)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the AJAX S 10C Forging Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (k)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the AJAX N 10C Forging Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (l)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the AJAX 13C Forging Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (m)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the AJAX  20C Forging Press was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (n)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Bridgeport, Southbend Lathe Corporation, and DoAll milling machines was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during heavy drilling operation. Employees were observed placing their fingers near the drill while working with the fabricating metal pieces. This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,836 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  Machine guarding was not provided to protect operators and other employees from hazards created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    (a)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the used portion of the recipracating blade on the DoAll DBW-15M, Model 2012-2H3 bandsaw located in the die shop was not guarded.  In addition, the bandsaw was left unattended while in continuous operation.  This condition exposed employees to an amputation hazard.      (b)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the unused portion of the recipracating blade on the bandsaw located in the steel shop was not guarded.   This condition exposed employees to an amputation hazard.      (c)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the Falcon Chevalier surface grinder, FSG-1640AD, located in the die shop was not guarded.  In addition, the grinder was left unattended while in continuous operation.  This condition exposed employees to an laceration hazard.      (d)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the Falcon Chevalier surface grinder, FSG-1628AD, located in the die shop was not guarded.  In addition, the grinder was left unattended while in continuous operation.  This condition exposed employees to an laceration hazard.       (e)  Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the DoAll surface grinder, located in the die shop was not guarded.  This condition exposed employees to an laceration hazard.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

May 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,836 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): The employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities:    a) Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not have energy control procedures in place for, but not limited to the following pieces of equipment:    1 The Power Shearing Shears Underdrive Series, Niagara Model 96, Serial 64973.     2. The forge presses located in the Hot Production Area    3. The rotary furnaces located in the Hot Production Area

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,251 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.179 (n)(3)(x):    The employer did not ensure that operator did not leave his position at the controls while the load was suspended:    a) Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure that the Yale Hoist S/N 1602 Overhead Crane suspending a 9-ton steel beam for 4 hours in the steel building had an operator present at the controls while the load was suspended.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,836 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards were not provided with,and used, electrical protective equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to beperformed:    (a) Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not provide the employees with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed on systems of 110 to 480 volts, including but not limited to troubleshooting and testing inside electrical panels.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of electrical shock and burns.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

1910.157(e)(2):    The employer did not ensure that portable fire extinguishers were visually inspected monthly:    a) Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer did not ensure that fire extinguishers in the main warehouse and steel building were being visualy inspected monthly. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Mar 20, 2012

Abate by

Apr 4, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1):  Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:    (a) Nichols Tillage Tools, Inc at 312 Hereford Ave, Sterling, CO 80751:  On and before October 13, 2011, the employer exposed the inner insulation of the electrical cord which supplies power to the 50 ton Press Master in the Hot Production area. The black sheath of the cord was cut. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of electrical shock and burn.