OSHA Inspection: ARLINGTON METALS CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,520 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 for likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards.    (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not ensure that hoist hooks were inspected prior to use, frequently and periodically. Hoist hooks throughout the facility were observed to be missing latches and were not removed from service.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,304 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards: Note: Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.    (a) Maintenance Department - The employer did not protect employees from possible fall hazards by enclosing open sided floors with falls of 12 feet or more. A standard guardrail system was not equipped on the mezzanine located above the maintenance office.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Mar 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,728 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(e): Fixed stairs were not installed at angles to the horizontal of between 30 degrees and 50 degrees:    (a) Cab Crane - Fixed stairs leading to the cab crane were not installed at angles between 30 and 55 degrees. The angles of the stairs were measured and the angle read at 60 degrees causing them to steep.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,304 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:    (a) Facility Wide- The employer did not conduct annual periodic inspection of the energy control procedures to ensure that procedures and requirements of the standards were being followed.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Mar 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,728 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(d)(4)(ii): Stairways shall be equipped with rigid and substantial metal handrails. Walking surfaces were not of antislip type.    (a) Cab Crane - The employer failed to ensure that walking surfaces leading to the cab platform were that of an antislip type.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $3,456 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(3): A complete periodic inspection of crane(s) had not been conducted in the past 12 months:    (a) Facility Wide - The employer failed to ensure that a complete periodic inspections of the 6 overhead cranes had been conducted in the past 12 months.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Feb 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $3,456 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by ingoing nip points and rotating parts;    (a) Bay 3 - The employer failed to guard the ingoing nip points near the slitter heads and slitter blades on the 48" slitter to protect employees from caught in hazards.    (b) Bay 3 - The employer failed to guard the ingoing nip points near the slitter heads and slitter blades on the 24" slitter to protect employees from caught in hazards.    (c) Bay 5 - The employer failed to guard the ingoing nip points near the slitter heads and slitter blades on the 72" slitter to protect employees from caught in hazards.    (d) Bay 6 - The employer failed to adequately enclose the ingoing nip points near the slitter heads and slitter blades on the Cut to Length (CTL) slitter to protect employees from caught in hazards.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,032 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(h)(1): The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade of radial saw(s) were not guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that automatically adjusted itself to the thickness of the stock and remained in contact with the material;   (a) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 18" radial arm saw #40100023, was equipped with a guard, however that guard did not automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock.   (b) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 16" radial arm saw #70041943, was equipped with a guard, however that guard did not automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $3,456 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(h)(3): Radial saw(s) were not provided with an adjustable stop to prevent the forward travel of the blade beyond the position necessary to complete the cut in repetitive operations:  (a) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 18" radial arm saw #40100023, was not provided with an adjustable stop to prevent the blade from going beyond the table.  (b) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 16" radial arm saw #70041943, was not provided with an adjustable stop to prevent the blade from going beyond the table.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $3,456 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(h)(4): Radial saw(s) were not installed in a manner so as to cause the cutting head to return gently to the starting position when released by the operator:   (a) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 18" radial arm saw #40100023 cutting head did not self-adjust back to its starting position when released by the operator.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,304 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  (a) Pallet Area- The employer did not provide a cover for a transformer located underneath the DeWalt 18' radial arm saw #40100023.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,728 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  (a) Pallet Area - The DeWalt 16" radial arm saw #70041943, was not hard wired and an extension cord was used to substitute as fixed wiring.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,032 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.333(a): Safety-related work practices were not employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work was performed near or on equipment or circuits which were or could be energized:  (a) Facility Wide: The employer did not develop or implement electrical safety related work practices to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electric contacts when working near or on equipment which could be energized such as live troubleshooting with a Fluke volt test meter. Arc burns were noted on the Fluke volt meter integrated probes used by maintenance employees.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,032 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(c)(2): Test instruments and equipment and all associated test leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors were not visually inspected for external defects and damage before the electric equipment was used:  (a) Maintenance Department - The Fluke volt test meter was not inspected visually for external defects or damage before the equipment was used. The integrated probes had damage to the tips where it is suspect that arc burns had occurred.  Fluke Volt Test Meter, TS-1000, 100A~ 1000V~CATIII 600V~CAT IV

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,032 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not supply electrical protective equipment such volt rated gloves and FR rated clothing, to protect employee from the work being performed such a live troubleshooting.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,032 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(v): Employees exposed to the danger of injury to the eyes or face from electric arcs or flashes or from flying objects resulting from electrical explosion did not wear protective equipment for the eyes or face:  (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not supply electrical protective equipment such as eye or face protective equipment, to protect employees from the work being performed such as live troubleshooting.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate.  (a) Maintenance Mezzanine Area - The employer did not place a load rating sign for the mezzanine area located above the maintenance department office which was used for storage.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(a): The employer did not establish a written emergency evacuation plan for employees expected to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency.    (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not establish a written emergency evacuation plan for employees expected to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    (a)Facility Wide - The employer did not assess the workplace to determine the use of personal protective equipment for employees to use during electrical maintenance (troubleshooting) on energized electrical equipment.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Affected employees were not instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure:  (a) Facility Wide - The employer failed to provide training to affected employees such as machine operators and machine helpers on the instruction in the purpose and use of the energy control procedures.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(2)(iii): A certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the hook inspected, was not maintained:    (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not ensure that records of crane inspections which include the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number of the hooks inspected throughout the facility were maintained.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(l)(1): A preventive maintenance program based on the crane manufacturer's recommendations was not established:  (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not develop and implement a preventative maintenance program for the 6 overhead cranes that was based on the crane manufacturer's recommendations.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(m)(1): A certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and an identifier for the ropes which were inspected were not being kept on file where readily available to appointed personnel:  (a) Facility Wide - Certification records which included the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and an identifier, for the ropes for all cranes and hoists which were inspected were not being kept.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(b)(2): Airhose and hose connections used for conducting compressed air to utilization equipment was not designed for the pressure and service to which they were subjected.  (a) Pallet Area - The air hose connectors used on the HITACHI NR83AA3 nail gun, was not designed for the pressure and service to which they were subject to.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:  (a) Facility Wide - The employer did not receive manufacturer's written approval for a boom forklift attachment that was used to lift employees in and out of slitter pits when cleaning was being performed. The boom attachment was manufactured by the maintenance department based on the employer's hand drawn "blueprints".

Issued

Aug 7, 2013

Abate by

Aug 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:  (a) On or about February 14, 2013, group lockout tagout was not performed as maintenance employees were performing repair work on the 48' tension stand.

Issued

Aug 7, 2013

Abate by

Sep 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:    (a) On or about February 14, 2013, sparks from welding repair being conducted on the 48" tension stand fell into the pit causing a smoke fire to erupt. Employees went through 11 fire extinguishers before being advised by the plant manager to evacuate the building. Employees were not provided with annual fire extinguisher training.

Issued

Aug 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,160 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(ii): When the object to be welded or cut could not be moved and all the fire hazards could not be removed, guards were not used to confine the heat, sparks, and slag to protect the immovable fire hazards:   (a) On or about February 14, 2013, guards were not placed on the object to be welded to prevent sparks from flying into the pit when maintenance employees were performing repair work on the 48" tension stand. A "smoke fire" erupted inside the pit causing an evacuation of the building and the use of 11 fire extinguishers due to a spark that entered the pit containing oil as welding was being performed.

Issued

Aug 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(xv): Cutting or welding was permitted not only in areas that were or had been made fire safe:  (a) On or about February 14, 2013, maintenance employees performing work on the 48" tension stand did not fully enclose the pit located adjacent to the area. A "smoke fire" erupted inside the pit causing an evacuation of the building and the use of 11 fire extinguishers due to a spark that entered the pit (containing oil ) as welding was being performed.