OSHA Inspection: C.O.W. INDUSTRIES INC.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(3): An exit route door may be locked from the inside only in mental, penal, or correctional facilities and then only if supervisory personnel are continuously on duty and the employer has a plan to remove occupants from the facility during an emergency.  a. In the grinding room the emergency exit door was locked from the inside with an sliding pin lock. The employees were exposed to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(f)(1)(i): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C). Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), shall be stored in closed containers, or in storage tanks above ground outside of buildings, or underground in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.  a. The employer was storing Category 1 Flammable paint in a two 55 gallon drums. The containers were open and vapors were accumulating in the storage room. Employees were exposed to noxious vapors.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2): General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.   a. On December 06, 2013 in the back of the fabrication shop, the lathe was not guarded with a chuck guard thereby exposing employees to a struck by hazard.   b. On December 06, 2013, in the machine shop the operator was running the HAAS lathe with the door open while the machine was spinning up. The employee was exposed to a caught in hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Abate by

Feb 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(iv): The following are some of the machines which usually require point of operation guarding:    29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(iv)(i): Forming rolls and calenders.    a. On December 05, 2013, the form roller was not guarded by trip wire or other methods exposing employees to a caught in hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3): Point of operation guarding. 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  a. On December 05, 2013, the employee was using a band saw to cut metal stock in the machine shop. The band saw had 7.5 inches of exposed blade to cut 4 inch stock; thereby exposing employees to an amputation hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(2): Guard design. The safety guard shall cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections. The safety guard shall be mounted so as to maintain proper alignment with the wheel, and the strength of the fastenings shall exceed the strength of the guard.  a. In the fabrication floor the employer had two abrasive wheel machines that did not have guards protecting the spindle end, nut, and flange projections. The employees were exposed to a caught in hazard.  b. In the machine shop the employer had an abrasive wheel machine that did not have guards protecting the spindle end, nut, and flange projections. The employees were exposed to a caught in hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(G): Cylinder valves shall be closed when work is finished.  a. On December 06, 2013, the valve was left open on an Argon/Oxygen cylinder that had been used on welding station one. Employees were exposed to a fire or explosion hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Abate by

Feb 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Services, feeders, and branch circuits. Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident.  a. The breaker boxes in the machine shop were not marked to indicate purpose; thereby exposing employees to contact with electrical current.  b. The breaker boxes in the welding fabrication shop were not marked to indicate purpose; thereby exposing employees to contact with electrical current.  c. The breaker boxes in the shipping department were not marked to indicate purpose; thereby exposing employees to contact with electrical current.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Abate by

Feb 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(f)(1)(viii): Circuit breakers used as switches in 120-volt and 277-volt, fluorescent lighting circuits shall be listed and marked "SWD."    a. The circuit breakers in the panel boxes through out the facility are used to turn on and off the lights. The breakers are not listed and labeled SWD for switch service, thereby exposing employees to contact with live electrical current.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii): Working space required by this standard may not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be suitably guarded.  In the shipping department the company had blocked access to the electrical cabinets and was using the area as storage. The employees were exposed to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): Grounding path. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures shall be permanent, continuous, and effective.  a. The fan near welding station one was plugged in but did not have the grounding pin. The path was not continous and therefore the employees were exposed to contact with electrical current.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables shall be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  a. The flexible cord and plug used to power the turn table in the shipping department was not provided with proper strain relief. Employees were exposed to contact with live electrical current.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(2): Panelboard enclosures. Panelboards shall be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons.  a. The panel board in the cabinet at the south end of the receiving department was not dead front. The panel had two open circuits that had been taped shut; thereby exposing employees to contact with live electrical.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $980 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used:  29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure;   a. On December 06, 2013, the employer was using an extension cord in lieu of fixed wiring. The extension cord was plugged in to an outlet and then run along piping before dropping down to allow for a lamp and radio to be plugged in. The employees were exposed to a shock or fire hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): An employer may provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard. If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"); and    a. Employees using a half mask cartridge respirator voluntarily for grinding operations were not provided with appendix D. Employees were not made aware of the hazards and responsibilities of using a respirator thereby being exposed to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.  a. The employer in the back of the metal fabrication shop behind the offices had a junction box with an unused opening. The employees were exposed to a contact with electrical current hazard.  b. In the shipping department the junction box on the southern wall had an unused opening; thereby exposing employees to contact with electrical current hazard.