OSHA Inspection: SWANTON WELDING & MACHINING CO., INC.

Issued

May 6, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    a)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer failed to ensure that each affected employee used face protection when exposed to flying particles while engaged in grinding operations.  Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards that could result in face injuries.

Issued

May 6, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    a)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 27, 2013, the employer failed to develop and implement an energy control program, complete with procedures and training to protect employees from injuries while they engaged in servicing and maintenance activities.  Employees were exposed while performing tasks, such as but not limited to job setups and tooling changes on various CNC machining equipment in the Machine Shop, exposing them to laceration, crushing and amputation hazards.

Issued

May 6, 2014

Abate by

May 22, 2014

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:    a)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 23, 2013, the employer did not ensure that each employee operating the Lodge & Shipley manufactured lathe, located in the Machine Shop, were protected from the machines rotating parts.  Employees were exposed to caught-on injuries from the rotating chuck while engaged in machining activities.    b)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 23, 2013, the employer did not ensure that each employee operating the Lehmann manufactured lath, located in the Machine Shop, was protected from the machines rotating parts.  Employees were exposed to caught-on injuries from the rotating chuck while engaged in machining activities.      c)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 16, 2013, employees operating the Mori Seiki SL-35 CNC lathe, located in the Machine Shop, were exposed to injuries from flying particles, rotating parts and unexpected startup.  The interlock on the sliding door guard was bypassed and employees were able to access the hazard area while the machine was in operation.      d)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer did not ensure that the Burr King (Spec. #35K313X136) belt sander, located in the Main Fabrication Shop, was guarded to protect employees during sanding operations.  Employees were exposed in-running nip points that could result in crushing hazards.

Issued

May 6, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,150 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)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer did not ensure that each employee who operated the Wysong manufactured press brake, located in the main fabrication shop, was protected from point of operation hazards.  Employees were exposed to crushing hazards, in that the machine was foot pedal activated and there were no point of operation guards in place to prevent an employee from inadvertently accessing the danger zone.    b)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer did not ensure that each employee who operated the Adira manufactured hydraulic press brake (Model QHD-17540), located in the Truck Shop, was protected from point of operation hazards.  Employees were exposed to crushing hazards, in that the machine was foot pedal activated and there were no point of operation guards in place to prevent an employee from inadvertently accessing the danger zone.     c)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer did not ensure that each employee who operated the Midwest Manufacturing Inc. manufactured punch press (Serial #717832, Model 150DE70) in the truck assembly area was protected from point of operation hazards.  Employees were exposed to crushing hazards, in that the machine was foot pedal activated and there were no point of operation guarding in place to prevent an employee from inadvertently accessing the danger zone.

Issued

May 6, 2014

Abate by

May 13, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(3): Abrasive wheels used on vertical portable grinder(s) (right angle head grinders) were not provided with safety guard(s) having a maximum exposure angle of 180 degrees and located between the operator and wheel:    a)  Swanton Welding & Machining Co., Inc., Swanton, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2013, the employer did not ensure that right angle grinders used by employees were equipped with guards to protect employees in the event that a wheel broke during operation.