OSHA Inspection: PRIEFERT MFG. CO., INC.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(h)(5): The employer does not pay for replacement personal protective equipment (PPE):    a) The employer does not ensure that required PPE is replaced free-of-charge to the employees.  This violation was discovered on or about July 30, 2014, in the welding department; where employees, who were required to wear PPE including but not limited to welding helmets, aprons, gloves and sleeves, had to pay for their own replacement PPE as needed.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(l)(3)(iii)(d): Pendant control stations were not kept clean and function labels kept legible:    The employer does not ensure that pendent control stations are kept clean and that function labels are kept legible.  This violation was observed on July 29, 2014, in plant 1; where employees were exposed to struck-by and/or crushed-by hazards while operating the following overhead cranes with pendent control stations that did not have legible function labels:       a) Welding station WLD-MA1, MC-33 5-ton crane.      b) Welding station WLD-MC1, MC 29 3-ton crane.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,500 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) The employer does not ensure that machine guarding is provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards points created by the point of operation, rotating parts and flying chips.  This violation was observed on or about July 30, 2014, in plant 1; where employees, who operated the Buffalo drill press that did not have shields and chuck guards, were exposed to hazards created by the point of operation, rotating parts and flying chips.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposed an employee to injury, was not guarded:    The employer does not ensure that the point of operation of machines, whose operation exposes employees to injuries, is guarded.  This violation was observed on or about July 30, 2014, in the tube mill department; where employees were not protected from placing their fingers, hands, or other body parts into the point of operation of the following machines:      a) 2-Hole Punch Machine.    b) 3 Hole Punch Machine.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,600 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers or other persons adjacent to the welding areas were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields or by being required to wear appropriate goggles:    a) The employer does not ensure that employees adjacent to the welding areas are protected from the welding rays.  This violation was observed on or about July 29, 2014, in plant 1; where employees working in areas with welding operations were not protected from the ultraviolet radiation by welding screens or shields or by wearing appropriate goggles.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $38,500 · Current $27,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in the activities covered by 29 CFR 1910.147:    The employer does not ensure that energy control procedures are developed, documented and utilized for machine operators, who place parts of their body into the point-of operation to reposition stock and/or clear jammed material/stock.  This violation occurred on or about July 30, 2014, and at times prior thereto, in the tube mill department; where employees, placed parts of the body into the point-of-operation of the following machines to reposition stock and/or clear jammed materials and stock, and were exposed to the hazards associated with the unexpected energization or startup of the machine or equipment, or release of stored energy:    a) 2-hole punch machine    b) 3-hole punch machine    PRIEFERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 943116, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 2a, AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 8, 2014, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 2630 SOUTH JEFFERSON AVENUE, MOUNT PLEASANT, TEXAS 75456.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Jan 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $18,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings were not effectively closed:    a) The employer does not ensure that unused openings in cabinets, boxes and fittings are effectively closed.  This violation was observed on or about July 29, 2014, in plant 1; where at least one maintenance employee, who accessed a panelboard, was exposed to energized equipment and circuits.  At least four breakers were missing from the panelboard, leaving an unused opening of approximately 3-inches by 6-inches.    PRIEFERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 943116, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 6(b), AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON APRIL 8, 2014, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 2630 SOUTH JEFFERSON AVENUE, MOUNT PLEASANT, TEXAS 75456.