OSHA Inspection: INDIANHEAD EXPLORATION, LLC

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Sep 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.300(b)(1):   Power operated tools designed to accommodate guards were not equipped with such guards to protect the operator and other employees in the area of these tools from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks:    a.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Ryobi and RIDGID drill presses did not have point of operation guards, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by flying metal debris.    b.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Enco 7-inch band saw did not have an adequate guard in that the metal guard had been damaged, leaving employees unprotected from the hazard of being struck and cut by a broken or loose blade.    c.   On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Enco vertical mill did not have point of operation guards, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by flying metal debris.    In the alternative:    29 CFR 1910.212(a): One or more methods of machine guarding were 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.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Ryobi and RIDGID drill presses did not have point of operation guards, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by flying metal debris.    b.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Enco 7-inch band saw did not have an adequate guard in that the metal guard had been damaged, leaving employees unprotected from the hazard of being struck and cut by a broken or loose blade.     c.   On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Enco vertical mill did not have point of operation guards, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by flying metal debris.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Sep 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.303(c)(1): Floor stand or bench mounted abrasive wheel(s), used for external grinding, were not provided with safety guards (protection hoods):    a.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Thor pedestal grinder was not guarded, exposing employees to being struck by flying metal debris or chunks of the abrasive grinding wheel.    In the alternative:    29 CFR 1910.215(b)(3): Bench and floor stands. The angular exposure of the grinding wheel periphery and sides for safety guards used on machines known as bench and floor stands exceeded 90 deg. or one-fourth of the periphery:     a.    On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the Thor pedestal grinder was not guarded, exposing employees to being struck by flying metal debris, or chunks of the abrasive grinding wheel.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Sep 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.303(c)(2): Work rest(s) provided on floor or bench mounted grinder(s) were kept at a distance in excess of one-eighth inch from the surface of the wheel:  a.   On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the work rest on the THOR pedestal abrasive wheel grinder was kept at a distance of five-sixteenths inch from the surface of the grinding wheel while performing off-hand grinding.  In the alternative:  29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): On offhand grinding machines, a work rest was not available to be used to support the work and the work rest available was not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch:  a.   On or about February 25, 2014, in the machine shop, the work rest on the THOR pedestal abrasive wheel grinder was kept at a distance of five-sixteenths inch from the surface of the grinding wheel while performing off-hand grinding.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.350(a)(7): A suitable cylinder truck, chain, or other steadying device was not used to keep compressed gas cylinder(s) from being knocked over while in use:    a.    On or about March 4, 2014, At the wood gasifiers, the cart for the acetylene fuel and oxygen cylinders used for the gas cutting torch was unstable in that a tire was flat.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.350(h): Oxygen, and fuel gas pressure regulators, or their related gauges were not in proper working order while in use:    a.   On or about March 4, 2014, at the wood gas cooling piping and tanks, the regulator pressure gages for the oxygen bottle on the cutting torch cart were damaged and inoperative.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.352(i): Drums containers, or hollow structures which have contained toxic or flammable substances were not, before welding, cutting, or heating was undertaken on them, either be filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested:    a.    On or about March 4, 2014, the wood gas supply piping and tanks were not cleaned, ventilated, and tested before cutting and welding, exposing employees to explosion hazards.  Two employees were injured when the vertical scrubber tank exploded.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.352(j): Before applying heat to a drum, container, or hollow structure, a vent or opening was not provided for the release of built-up pressure during the application of heat:  a.    On or about March 4, 2014, in the wood gas supply system, while using an oxyacetylene cutting torch, the wood gas supply piping, heat exchangers, and scrubber tanks were not vented to relieve pressure, exposing employees to an explosion hazard.  Two employees were injured when the vertical scrubber tank exploded.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Sep 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(19): Where the total length of a climb equals or exceeds 24 feet (7.3 m), fixed ladders shall be equipped with one of the following: ladder safety devices; or self-retracting lifelines, and rest platforms at intervals not to exceed 150 feet (45.7 m); or a cage or well, and multiple ladder sections, each ladder section not to exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) in length. Ladder sections shall be offset from adjacent sections, and landing platforms shall be provided at maximum intervals of 50 feet (15.2 m):    a.    On or about February 11, 2014, on the gasifier platform, the vertical fixed ladder did not have ladder safety devices, self-retracting lifelines, or a cage or well, exposing employees to a 24 feet fall hazard.    In the alternative:  29 CFR 1910.27(d)(1)(ii): Cages or wells shall be provided for fixed ladders of more than 20 feet (except as provided in subparagraph 5 of this paragraph) to a maximum unbroken length of 30 feet:    a.    On or about February 11, 2014, on the gasifier platform, the vertical fixed ladder did not have ladder safety devices, self-retracting lifelines, or a cage or well, exposing employees to a 24 feet fall hazard.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(16):   Portable ladder(s) with structural defects, such as, but not limited to, broken or missing rungs, cleats, or steps, broken or split rails, corroded components, or other faulty or defective components, were not either immediately marked in a manner that readily identifies them as defective, or be tagged with "Do Not Use" or similar language, and shall be withdrawn from service until repaired:    a.    On or about March 4, 2014, at the wood gas scrubber tank, a 6-foot fiberglass stepladder used by welding employees had cracked rails was not removed from service.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $33,000 · Current $16,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to an amputation hazard from a conveyor roller drum:    a.   On or about February 11, 2014, at the bottom of the inclined conveyor that delivers wood fuel to the gasifier furnaces, employees loading the wood fuel hopper were exposed to an amputation hazard from a shear point between the conveyor roller drum and the frame.    b.   On or about February 11, 2014, at the bottom of the inclined conveyor that delivers wood fuel to the gasifier furnaces, employees loading the wood fuel hopper were exposed to an amputation hazard from an ingoing nip between the conveyor belt and the bottom of the roller drum.

Issued

Aug 8, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $33,000 · Current $16,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1412(f)(5):   Equipment, determined by qualified personnel to have deficiencies that are safety hazards, were not taken out of service until corrected, and temporary alternative measures as specified in 1926.1416(d) or 1926.1435(e) were not implemented:    a.   On or about February 25, 2014, at the pellet silo, the 18 ton Omega 118 P & H crane was used after a deficiency notice was issued for a defective load moment indicator, anti-two-block, and inoperable brakes.    b.   On or about February 25, 2014, at the work site, the 25-ton MT250 P & H crane was used after a deficiency notice was issued for defective load cable, load moment indicator, anti-two-block, and swing brake.