OSHA Inspection: QUEEN CITY POLYMERS, INC.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Mar 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):     Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.    Specific energy control procedures for machines with electrical and pneumatic energy sources such as the CNC Routers and Panel Saw Machines had not been developed.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Mar 12, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):     The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees.      Employees performing servicing and maintenance tasks such as changing saw blades, router tool bit changes on CNC Routers, surfaces on work tables on CNC Routers, and in periodic inspections had not received training to acquire the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy controls.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3):     All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).    In the Production Area operators are changing the saw blades on the SCMI Panel Saw, and changing the tool bits on the Shoda, Gerber, and Northwoods CNC Routers without first isolating the electrical and pneumatic energy sources.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i):     Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.    a.  In the Production Area on or about November 6, 011, an employee was changing the surface on the work table of Shoda #2 and the White Shoda and did not affix a lock on the pneumatic and electrical energy sources.    b  In the Production Area an employee changing the saw blade on the SCMI Panel Saw did not affix a lock on the 100 psi pneumatic and 240 Volt AC electrical energy sources.    c.  In the Production Area an employee changing the router tool bits on the Northwoods and Shoda CNC Routers did not affix a lock on the 100 psi pneumatic and 240 Volt AC electrical energy sources.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Mar 12, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 and sparks.     a.  In the Fabrication Area an employee was exposed to the unguarded saw blade on the Delta Table Saw Machine during its operation.    b.  In the Fabrication Area an employee was exposed to the unguarded saw blade on the Powermatic Table Saw Machine during its operation.    c.  In the Fabrication Area an employee was exposed to the unguarded router bit from the portable router power tool mounted from under the work table.    d.  In the Fabrication Area an employee was exposed to the unguarded router bit from the portable router power tool mounted from under the work table.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3):     Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided.    In the Production Area an employee was exposed to a pinch point hazard from the exposed portion of a chain and sprocket located approximately 18 inches off the floor on the SCMI Panel Saw Machine.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2):     'Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.    In the Fabrication area at a workbench an extension cord set was plugged into a six outlet surge suppressor which was plugged into another six outlet surge supressor and not used in accordance with its listing or labeling.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5):     Grounding path. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures shall be permanent, continuous, and effective.    a  In the Fabrication Area, employees were using a portable router powered tool, 110 Volt AC,  mounted under a work table which was missing the ground pin on its plug.     b. In the Fabrication Area, an employee using a six outlet surge suppressor, 110 Volt AC, to provide power for a mcrowave and the ground pin was missing on its plug.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv):     Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used:    In the Fabrication Area an extension cord set, 110 Volt AC, was being run under a rubber mat to power a computer at the Production Manager's desk and was not protected from damage.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii):     Flexible cords and cables shall be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.    In the Fabrication Area the outer insulation on a 110 Volt AC power cord to a buffer machine mounted to a workbench was pulled away from the plug creating strain on the terminal screws.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Mar 5, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a):     General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.    Employees changing saw blades on the SCMI Panel Saw and Delta and Powermatic Table Saw Machines were not provided with the appropriate hand protection to protect themselves against severe cuts and lacerations.

Issued

Feb 10, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2):     General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard initself.    In the Production Area the end guard covering the saw blade on the SCMI Panel Saw was not secured.