OSHA Inspection: QUAKER CITY CASTINGS, INC.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    On or about August 13, 2013, a dosimeter (sn: NLH090055) was placed on an employee working in the grinding area for a total of 433 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 888.9% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 105.7 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 47 minutes not sampled.       Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:    1. Installation of mufflers on the grinders to reduce noise from the exhaust ports    2. Replacement of air powered grinders with electric powered tools    3. Separation of workers by distance or through the use of partitions and  soundproofing surfaces so that employees do not receive noise from adjacent workers       Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to noise as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation.       1. Evaluation of engineering control options     2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design       3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures       4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls       Step 2: All Proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 30 days.       Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls. Verification must be provided, and should include noise monitoring results showing levels of noise below the permissible exposure limit. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Mar 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:    On and before August 13, 2013, company employees were exposed to noise above the action level. Training had not been conducted and documented on an annual basis.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Dec 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    On and before July 16, 2013, company employees are required to service equipment including, but not limited to, centrifugal casting equipment which has multiple sources of power. The company had not developed procedures to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition:    On or about July 5, 2013, a Trojan 1500Z Wheel Loader with a damaged windshield was not taken out of service until restored to a safe operating condition.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Dec 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 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 point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    On or about July 5, 2013, a South Bend Precision Lathe which had been used to work on both metal and wood, did not have a chuck guard in place.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Dec 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1): Gear(s) were not guarded by a complete enclosure or by one of the methods specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(1)(iii):    On or about July 5, 2013, a South Bend Precision Lathe which had been used to work on both metal and wood had gears exposed.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(i)(1): Non-working portion(s) of the blade of bandsaw(s) were not enclosed or guarded:    On or about July 5, 2013, all portions of the blade except for the working portion between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table on the company's Rockwell Series No. 28-3XO bandsaw were not guarded.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(2): Abrasive wheel(s) used on grinding machinery were not provided with safety guard(s) which covered the spindle end, nut, flange projections:    On or about July 5, 2013, a cut off machine in the mold making area did not have guarding in place to cover the spindle end and nut projections.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(5): The angular exposure of grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on surface grinding machine(s) employing the wheel periphery exceeded 150 degrees:     On or about July 5, 2013, the cut off machine was not guarded so that the maximum angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides was 150 degrees.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:    On or about July 5, 2013, the work rests on a pedestal mounted grinder in the mold making area were not properly adjusted.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  On or about July 5, 2013, the tongue guards on a pedestal mounted grinder in the mold making area were not properly adjusted.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Dec 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    On or about July 5, 2013, compressed air that was used to blow excess silica sand in the mold area was not reduced to less than 30 psi.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:    On or about July 5, 2013, electrical equipment was not used as the manufacturer intended in that flexible cord was wired into an electrical outlet, then plugged into an additional outlet to provide electric power to the outlet to which it was wired.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.  On or about July 5, 2013, there was an unused opening on a junction box housing a toggle switch in the maintenance area.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There were damaged parts that adversely affected safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that were broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:   On or about July 5, 2013, an electrical outlet in the wood shop was visibly damaged, exposing employees to live electrical wires.

Issued

Oct 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   On or about July 5, 2013, flexible cord was run from a Millport brand vertical milling machine to an electrical disconnect, and was affixed to the wall of the building and strung over conduit along the way.