OSHA Inspection: ADVERTISING CONCEPTS, INC. DBA ADCON SIGNS

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,934 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 which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that the employer did not maintain a safe distance from the point of operation on the Cincinnati, Series 5 power press brake exposing employees to an amputation hazard:      (a)	Advertising Concepts, Inc. at 3725 Canal Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524: On and before September 5, 2012, the employer did not ensure that an effective safety program was implemented which included safe work procedures, training, and supervision to ensure that employees operating power press brakes are doing so safely by maintaining a safe distance from the point of operation.  This condition exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    Abatement Note:  Press brake safeguarding can be accomplished by using one of the following:    (a)  Presence Sensing Device - Designed to automatically stop the machine when the sensing field is interrupted.  (b)  Two-Hand Control Device - Designed to keep the operators hands away from the point of operation by requiring two hands to engage the machine.  (c)  Pullback Device - Designed to pull the operator's hands away from the area of the closing dies during each stroke of the press.  (d)  Restraint Device - Designed and adjusted so that the operator can never reach the point of operation.    Among others, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to ensure that each employee who works on the power press brake receives training, and supervision to ensure that operating power press brakes safely by maintaining a safe distance from the point of operation.  Safeguarding by maintaining a safe distance is acceptable, during normal production operation, if the operating employee does not approach closer than necessary and in no case closer than 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) to the power press brake point of operation as required under OSHA CPL 2-11.25, Guidelines for Point of Operation Guarding of Power Press Brakes paragraph D.7 and ANSI B11.3-1982, Safety Requirements for Power Press Brakes.    Safeguarding by maintaining a "safe distance" is acceptable only when safeguarding by physical barrier or devices is not feasible and the employer demonstrates that power press brake point of operation guarding by maintaining a safe distance is limited to one-time only fabrication of made-to-order or custom-made piece parts.  Small quantity runs, typically performed in job shop or model shop establishments may be affected by this provision; high volume piece part rates of production will not.  A "small quantity run" means fabrication of more than one of the same piece parts over a continuous time frame of no more than four hours per month.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,934 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)	Advertising Concepts, Inc. at 3725 Canal Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524: On and before September 5, 2012, the employer did not ensure that the Big Band Saw in the General Fabrication Area was provided with guards to protect operators and other employees from hazards created by rotating parts.  This condition exposed the employees to injuries caused by unprotected rotating parts associated with the large fly wheel on top and the belt and pulleys associated with the motor below.