OSHA Inspection: BITZER US INC.

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6300.00 · Current $6300.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energization, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    a) Plant - Employees repaired, serviced, and operated equipment including (but not limited to) the welding robot, power supply and control, CNC plasma cutter, CNC mill, CNC lathe, CNC punch press, shear, and press brake, and related equipment subjected to lockout/tagout, as described in the document "Advance Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc. Equipment List November 2012". The employer did not establish a program for control of hazardous energy.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4500.00 · Current $4500.00

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) Plant - The point of operation of the Standard press bender  (Model  AB 200-12, S.N.F1081650) was not guarded.     b) Plant - The  point of operation of the Standard press bender (Model  AB 200-12, S.N.F1081650) was not guarded in the back of the machine.    c) Plant - The point of operation of the  Craftsman Professional 12 in. diameter miter saw was not guarded.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2700.00 · Current $2700.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a) Plant - Workers handled and applied chemicals including (but not limited to) compressed air, argon, argon-CO2 mixture, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), cutting oil, lubricant oils and greases, and flammable solvent-based coatings.  The employer did not prepare and implement a Hazard Communication Program.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:    a) Plant - Cutting oil in use at the Boschert CNC punch machine was stored in an original "High Performance Energy Drink" plastic bottle.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:    a) Plant - Workers handled and applied chemicals including (but not limited to) compressed air, argon, argon-CO2 mixture, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and flammable solvent-based coatings.  The employer did not maintain Material Safety data Sheets (MSDSs).     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    a) Plant - Workers handled and applied chemicals including (but not limited to) compressed air, argon, argon-CO2 mixture, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and flammable solvent-based coatings.  The employer failed to provide employees with Hazard Communication training.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    a) Plant - Employees operated portable electric wheel grinders, portable pneumatic wheel grinders, and punch machines. The employer did not monitor the noise level in the representative sectors of the plant, including the CNC punch area and the welding stations. (Instantaneous noise measurements in excess of 97.5 dB were recorded).    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants chemical state and physical form:    a) Plant - Employees operated arc welding machines, robotic welders, and plasma cutters with concomitant generation of fumes in the air. The employer did not assess the indoor air quality and employee exposure to respiratory hazards.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator had been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):    a) Plant - Workers operated the Caterpillar 50 forklift (LPG powered) and the Nissan forklift  (Electric). The employer did not certify in writing that the workers had been trained and evaluated to ensure the safe operation of the vehicles.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2012-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:    a) Plant - The 480 V power cable for the AX21 robot control box (part of the OTC robotic welding machine) had a damaged strain relief device at the cabinet wall.  The outer jacket was withdrawn. The internal conductors and terminals were subjected to strain.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).