OSHA Inspection: GOLDEN DRAGON COPPER, INC.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Jan 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(3): Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards shall be guarded with a standard railing and toe board.  (a)  Melt area - On June 17,2014, at the Copper Furnace: the employer exposed employees to fall and burn hazards in that employees were required to unsling plates and unhook copper ingots at the edge of the copper furnace opening where cold copper plates and ingots are added to molten copper.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): Standard railings were not provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms:  (a) Bunch Coil pit line 2 - On November 18, 2014: The employer exposed employees to fall hazards of 9 feet to the concrete floor in that the stair consisting of 13 risers going into the pit was not provided with a any standard railing on either side of the stair.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  (a)  Melt area - On June 17, 2014; The employer exposed an employee to molten copper when charging copper plates to the copper furnace and the employee was not required to wear protective clothing to protect the employee from molten copper.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Mar 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  (a)  Melt area - On June 17, 2014: The employer exposed an employee to molten copper when charging copper plates to the copper furnace and the employer had not conducted a workplace hazard assessment nor had the employer  performed a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:  (a)  Melt area - On June 17,2014: The employer exposed employees to molten copper when charging copper plates to the copper furnace and the employee was not required to wear eye and face protection.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Jun 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 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)  Production area - On June 17,2014: The employer exposed employees to amputation hazards while working on the "Double Draw" and when changing the band saw on the copper tube GYO42 band saw, in that the employer had not developed an energy control program that consisted of, but not limited to yearly audits and employee training.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Jun 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that employees acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of energy control devices:  (a)  Manufacturing area - On June 17,2014; The employer exposed employees to amputation hazards from the sudden release of electrical and hydraulic energy while working on the "Double Draw" and when changing the band saw on the GYO42 copper tube horizontal band saw.  The employer had not trained on the application, usage and removal of the lock out devices when performing maintenance on these machines.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(d): Inspections. Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments shall be inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer. Additional inspections shall be performed during sling use, where service conditions warrant. Damaged or defective slings shall be immediately removed from service.  (a) Furnace area - On June 17,2014; The employer exposed employees to crush-by hazard in that slings were not inspected by a designated person where deficiencies of the wire rope metal sling included but are not limited to slings did not have a marking that indicated the safe working load, and wire rope hooks attached at each end of the wire rope were secured by improperly installed clips.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(f)(1): Wire-rope slings did not  have permanently affixed and legible identification markings as prescribed by the manufacturer  that indicated the recommended safe working load for the type(s) of hitch(es) used, the angle upon which it is based, and the number of legs if more than one:  (a) Furnace area - On June 17,2014; the employer exposed employees to crush-by hazard when he provided the employee with a wire rope sling to lift bundles of 8-10 copper plates with a pendant control overhead crane.  The wire rope sling used in a basket hitch to lift te copper plates did not have a marking that indicated the safe working load.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 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)  Furnace area - On June 17,2014; The employer exposed employees to caught in hazards from rotating parts on the metal lathe that is turning at approximately 1900 revolutions per minute where there is no guard to protect employees from contact with the rotating chuck.  b) Double Draw area - On June 17,2014; The employer exposed employees to caught in hazards from ingoing nip point where the double draw guide rolls were not guarded.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 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) Shedder/Recycle area - On June 17, 2014; the employer exposed employees and employees to amputation hazards where the bailer was not guarded to prevent employee from coming into contact during with press during compression cycles of horizontal baler.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  (a)   Transfer Station - On June 17,2014; The employer exposed employees amputation hazards where the drive chains and sprockets for the transfer station conveyor were not properly enclosed leaving openings that are 4 inches long by 2 inches wide.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    (a)  Production area - On June 17, 2014; The employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals in that employees had not been trained on the chemical and physical hazards of the hazardous chemicals in the workplace, such as but not limited to copper fumes which can cause metal fume fever and attacks the liver and kidney's.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    (a)  Production area - On June 17, 2014; The employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals in that the employer had not developed a written hazard communication program including a list of chemicals at the workplace, for chemicals such as but not limited to copper fumes, which can cause metal fume fever and attacks the liver and kidney's.

Issued

Dec 12, 2014

Abate by

Dec 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(3)(ii): Records of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected were not available for examination:  (a)  Furnace area - On June 17,2015 the employer did have not designate a competent person to inspect the 2 Leg alloy steel chain slings used to lift pallets of recycle copper and copper plates nor were they inspected each day before being used.