OSHA Inspection: CHOWEL WELDPARTS, INC.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3060.00 · Current $1800.00 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 were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards:        a)  5826 Montgomery Hwy, Luverne AL - Warehouse; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work around steel storage racks which were damaged and the column base plates were not anchored to the floor.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2295.00 · Current $1300.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1): Every flight of stairs having four or more risers was not equipped with standard stair railings or standard handrails as specified in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of this section:    a)  Maintenance Shop; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down fixed stairs with four or more risers that did not have a standard stair railing.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(e): The fixed stairs were not installed at angles to the horizontal between 30 and 50 degrees as outlined, but not limited to the combinations given in Table D-1.    a)  Maintenance Shop; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to fall hazards in that employees were allowed to walk up and down fixed stairs set at an angle of 56 degrees to the horizontal.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-05-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3825.00 · Current $2250.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, (c)(4)(ii)(B), Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy:     a)  Production Floor; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed his employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 23,000 Machine which has multiple hazardous energy sources such as electric, compressed air, and CO2 gas without those employees having a written machine specific procedure that identified all of the energy sources (compressed air and CO2 gas) and the steps for shutting down,isolating, and securing all hazardous energies while the employees were performing maintenance or servicing on the machine.     b)  Production Floor; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed his employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 32,000 Machine which has multiple hazardous energy sources such as electric, compressed air, and CO2 gas without those employees having a written machine specific procedure that identified all of the energy sources (compressed air and CO2 gas) and the steps for shutting down, isolating, and securing all hazardous energies while the employees were performing maintenance or servicing on the machine.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)  Production Floor; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the 23,000 Machine together without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point(s).

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-05-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1951.00 · Current $1100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Grinding machinery was not used with work rest(s) to support offhand grinding work:    a) Buggy Repair Area; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a bench grinder with a missing work rest.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:   a) Buggy Repair Area; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to stuck-by hazards in that they were allowed to operate a bench grinder with the tongue guard missing.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-05-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4590.00 · Current $2700.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.255(b)(4): All press welding machine operations, where there was a possibility of the operator's fingers being under the point of operation, were not effectively guarded by use of a device such as electronic eye safety circuit, two hand control, or similar protection:    a)  Production Floor; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to crush/amputation hazards in that employees were allowed to operate the 6 MM Work Station press welding machine where the point of operation was not effectively guarded by use of an electronic eye safety circuit, two hand control, or other similar protection as required by the regulation.   b)  Production Floor; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to crush/amputation hazards in that employees were allowed to operate the 8 MM Station press welding machine where the point of operation was not effectively guarded by use of an electronic eye safety circuit, two hand control, or other similar protection as required by the regulation.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2295.00 · Current $1350.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   a)  Hiwall #43 Mechanical Power Press; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards in that employees were allowed to access an operators panel with multiple open holes exposing live electrical parts in the panel.   b) Breaker Panel behind the 6mm and 8mm nut spot welding machines; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards in that employees were allowed to access and walk by a breaker panel multiple open holes not effectively closed.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(D): Flexible cords and cables were attached to building surfaces:   a) Buggy Repair Area; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards in that employees were allowed to walk and work around temporary flexible cords that were attached to the building and wire tied to a storage rack in lieu of permanent fixed wiring.

Issued

2014-04-22 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the  safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  a)  Plant Wide; On or about March 18, 2014 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that employees were not provided the new information and training on the UN Global Harmonized System (GHS) to include Safety Data Sheets (SDS).