OSHA Inspection: WEISER ENGINEERING/MILE HIGH PRECISION INC.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,636 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):  The employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures 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 from the energy source, and rendered inoperative in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4):      (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures and employee training to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing, tool change out, 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 from the energy source, and rendered inoperative, including but not limited to the following:      1.  CNC lathes, mills, laser  2.  turret punches  3.  press brakes  4.  horizontal lathes  5.  shear  6.  bailer    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 re-energization. When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially re-accumulated 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

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jul 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):  The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees, and to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:                                                                                  (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices, including but not limited to the following machines or equipment:      1.  CNC lathes, mills, laser  2.  turret punches  3.  press brakes  4.  horizontal lathes  5.  shear  6.  bailer    Abatement Note:  The training shall include the following:      (1)  Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.      (2)  Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.      (3)  All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or re-energize machines or equipment which are locked out or tagged out.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jul 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,309 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)   Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 guarding was not provided to protect employees from hazards created by the rotating chuck on lathes. The rotating chuck on the SHARP-1880C was not guarded. This condition exposed employees to hazards by contacting the chuck.    (b)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO 80233:  On and before March 7, 2013 guarding was not provided to protect machinists and other employees from hazards created by the rotating parts of a milling machine. This condition exposed employees to hazards by contacting the rotating chuck and cutter.     (c)   Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO 80233:  On and before March 7, 2013 guarding was not provided to protect employees from hazards created by the moving material table of the Vipros-255 punching machine. This condition exposed employees to hazards by contacting the moving table.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jul 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,695 Reduced

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)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not ensure the point of operations on two hydraulic power presses were properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation. Operators placed their hands within one-inch of the point of operation while holding material during press brake operation. This hazard 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.      Note: 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.      Note: Two-hand control, as a point of operation safeguarding device for press brakes, is ideal for short-run job-shop operations. Piece parts can vary from quite small to very large. The steps are as follows:  (a)  Step 1 - By depressing the control buttons, the operator initiates the press brake stroke.  (b)  Step 2 - The operator must hold the buttons until the slide completes its downward travel. If the operator removes a hand from one of the controls, the slide will stop. In the single stroke or Hi/Lo mode, the slide will make one complete stroke.  (c)  Step 3 - In the sequence mode, the slide will automatically stop at a preset position 1/4"  or less above the work piece. This position is adjustable for different feed-line heights or material thickness.  (d)  Step 4 - If the work piece is not already placed in the die, it may be inserted at this time.  (e)  Step 5 - The two-hand control or the foot switch is now re-initiated, causing the slide to continue through the bottom of the stroke and finishing at top dead center (TDC).

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i):  Exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:    (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 exposed parts of horizontal shafting were not protected by stationary casings enclosing shafting completely or by troughs enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting, in, but not limited to the following shafting:  1.  The insert spindle used for longer length material on a Mazak CNC lathe 2.  The output end of the chip conveyor on the Mazak Nexus 250-II CNC lathe

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1):  Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not ensure that pulley of the drive motor on the Shear was guarded. The pulley is located approximately three-feet from the operators feet. This condition exposed employees to hazards of contacting the rotating pulley.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i):  Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not ensure that the belt of the drive motor on the Shear was guarded. The belt is located approximately three-feet from the operators feet. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of being caught in ingoing nip points.

Issued

May 16, 2013

Abate by

Jun 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):  Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 psi:    (a)  Weiser Engineering/Mile High Precision Inc. at 10901 Irma Drive, Northglenn, CO:  On and before March 7, 2013 the employer did not ensure that compressed air nozzles used for cleaning off metal lathes and other equipment in the facility was reduced to less than 30 psi. Compressed air lines used for cleaning off the equipment were pressurized greater than 80 psi. This condition exposed employees using the air hose to the hazard of an embolism in the blood stream.