OSHA Inspection: WESTERN FOUNDRIES, INC.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,091 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(iii): Flight(s) of stairs with 4 or more risers, less than 44 inches wide having both sides open, were not equipped with one standard stair railing on each side:        (a)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer did not ensure the stairs leading up to the shake out were equipped with standard stair railings on both open sides. The stairs had 4 or more risers and no standard railing. This condition potentially exposed the employees to a fall hazard when using the stairs.      Abatement Note:  A standard railing for stairs shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and shall have a vertical height of not more than 34 inches nor less than 30 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to surface of the tread in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the tread. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,091 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1):   The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment would be isolated, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):    (a)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure and employee training that met the requirements of the standard to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, including but not limited to the  beam saw .  This condition exposed the employee to an amputation hazard.    Abatement Note:  As part of an energy-control program, employers must:    (1)Establish energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected reenergization.  When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially reaccumulated energy.    (2)Train employees on the energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and    (3)Inspect these procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.    The energy-control procedures must outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance.  These procedures must provide employees at least the following information:    (1)A statement on how to use the procedures;    (2)Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines;    (3)Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices and identifying who has responsibility for the lockout/tagout devices; and    (4)Specific requirements for testing machines to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy-control measures.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Mar 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B):  The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.      (a)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer did not ensure that the energy control procedures clearly and specifically outlined the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.  Each piece of equipment has multiple energy sources, mechanical, electrical and/or pneumatic and/or hydraulic. This condition exposed the employees and outside contractors to an uncontrolled energy source hazard.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:      (a)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer had not conducted an annual or more frequent inspection of the lockout/tagout procedures to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of the energy control program were being followed to protect employees from unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy.  This condition includes but is not limited to the injection molding machines.      Abatement Note:  The procedures and requirements of the periodic inspection of the energy control procedure shall include at a minimum:      (1)The periodic inspection shall be performed by an authorized employee other than the one(s) utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected.      (2)The periodic inspection shall be conducted to correct any deviations or inadequacies identified.      (3)Where lockout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.      (4)Where tagout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized and affected employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected, and the elements set forth in paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of this section.      (5)The employer shall certify that the periodic inspections have been performed. The certification shall identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,091 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  Machine guarding was not provided to protect operators employees from hazards created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    (a)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  Machine guarding was not provided in that the horizontal steel cutting bandsaw in the maintenance shop was not fitted with a guard to protect the unused portion of the blade.  This condition exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    (b)Western Foundries Inc., at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  Machine guarding was not provided in that the Wells-Index drill press in the maintenance shop was not fitted with a guard to protect the employee from rotating parts.  This condition exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(2)(iii):  Monthly inspections of hooks, with signed reports, were not performed:      (a)Western Foundries at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer did not ensure that all overhead crane hooks located throughout the facility had signed monthly inspection reports.

Issued

Feb 14, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(2)(iv):  Monthly inspections of hoist chains, with signed reports, were not performed:     (a)Western Foundries at 100 Martin St., Longmont, CO 80501:  The employer did not ensure that all overhead crane chains located throughout the facility had signed monthly inspection reports.