OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL SINTERED ALLOYS, INC.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(5): Every pit and trapdoor floor opening, infrequently used, shall be guarded by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction. While the cover is not in place, the pit or trap opening shall be constantly attended by someone or shall be protected on all exposed sides by removable standard railings.    WORKSHOP/PRESS DEPARTMENT:  The pit for the lower ram in front of the Niagara No. 57 Briquetting Compressing press and into which employees could accidentally walk while performing tasks, such as (but not limited to) cleaning the press and removal of the overflowed iron powder was not guarded by appropriate means.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,430 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.     WORKSHOP:  The employer had not established step-by-step written energy control procedures in the machine specific for the employees during servicing and maintenance of equipment, such as (but not limited to) the power presses.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.     WORKSHOP:  The employees, as authorized, affected and/or other types were not provided with training and information in the controlling of potentially hazardous and unexpected releases of energy sources (lockout/tagout) during servicing and maintenance of equipment, such as (but not limited to) the power presses.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,430 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding were not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from the hazards such as those created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    WORKSHOP/PRESS DEPARTMENT:  The pinch/shearing points, created by the lower ram of the Niagara No 57 Briquetting compressing press were unguarded.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

Mar 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(c)(2)(i)(a): It shall prevent entry of hands or fingers into the point of operation by reaching through, over, under or around the guard.    WORKSHOP/PRESS DEPARTMENT:  The barrier guard, installed in front of the Niagara No 57 Briquetting compressing press as a point-of-operation guard did not meet the design and construction criteria, allowing employee's hand/fingers to have access into the point-of-operation by reaching through the opening on the guard.    On or about August 21, 2012, the employee, performing clearing parts and/or cleaning the press was able to have access into the point-of-operation and sustained severe llaceration to the right middle finger.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(b)(2): Crank(s) and connecting rod(s), when exposed to contact, were not guarded in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (n) of this section, or by a guardrail as described in paragraph (o)(5) this section:    WORKSHOP/PRESS DEPARTMENT:  The connecting rod/shaft for the lower ram in front of the Niagara No 57  Briquetting compressing press was unguarded.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

Mar 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(b)(3): Tail rod(s) or extension piston rod(s) were not guarded in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section, or a guardrail on sides and end, with a clearance of not less than fifteen (15) nor more than twenty (20) inches when rod(s) were fully extended:    WORKSHOP/PRESS DEPARTMENT:  The  piston extension rod, located in the right side of the of the Niagara No 57 Briquetting compressing press was unguarded.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

Feb 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $490 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): The employer did not provide the required injury or illness descriptions on the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 300:    WORKSHOP:  The OSHA 300 log of work-related injuries and illnesses for the 2012 year were not completed in detail as followed:    Cases numbered 2 and 3; column (F) did not describe the object/substance that directly injured or made the employee ill.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

Mar 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.    WORKSHOP:  The employer had not verified through a written certification that the required workplace hazard assessment for personal protective equipment (PPE) had been perfromed as completely and appropriately.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

Mar 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction signs. Safety instruction signs shall be used where there is a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures.    WORKSHOP:  The pull down cylinder for the pressure gauge for the Niagara No. 57 Briquetting Compressing press was not labeled with a safely operating instruction sign/label.

Issued

Jan 28, 2013

Abate by

May 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.    WORKSHOP:  The employees, who were required to work with chemicals, such as (but not limited to) iron powder were not provided with training and information in the hazard communication program.