OSHA Inspection: ELECTRICAL MATERIALS COMPANY

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides.                  On or about October 6, 2014, employees were cleaning and changing out the hoppers on the Injection Mold Machines and there was no standard guardrail system in place to protect employees from falling to lower levels.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color. Self-luminous or electroluminescent signs that have a minimum luminance surface value of at least .06 footlamberts (0.21 cd/m2) are permitted.                  On or about October 6, 2014, exit signs were not illuminated for employees usage while working at the facility.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): Energy control program. The employer did not establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs 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.                    On or about October 6, 2014, employees were engaged in energy control procedures and the company had not developed and implemented an energy control program.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:                    On or about October 6, 2014, employees were operating, servicing, and maintaining equipment and the company had not provided energy control training to employees prior to.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.                  On or about October 6, 2014, employees were setting up, changing dies, and repairing equipment and did not affix lockout devices  to isolate the energy prior to performing such functions.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): Training did not consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.                    On or about October 6, 2014, employees were operating the fork truck and had not been trained on fork truck operations prior to.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.              On or about October 6, 2014, employees were operating the Grub Brothers #3214 Band Saw and there was no adjustable guard on the saw to protect employees from possible injuries.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Feb 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, were not guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.                    On or about October 6, 2014, employees were exposed to point of operation hazards while operating the Guifil PE 30-60 and 30-100 Press Brake Machines due to no guarding device being in place.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests were not kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.              On or about October 6, 2014 employees were operating the grinding wheel machine and the work rest was not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum of one-eighth inch to prevent injuries from occurring.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, were not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)                On or about October 6, 2014, employees were operating the bench grinder and the tongue guard on the machine was not adjusted to a 1/4 inch opening in order to protect employees from injury.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:                On or about October 6, 2014, employees were handling hazardous chemicals such as Slide Mold Shield Aerosol, Ejector Pin Lube, and the company had not developed and implemented a Hazardous Communication Program.

Issued

Jan 22, 2015

Abate by

Jan 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.                  On or about October 6, 2014, employees were handling hazardous chemicals such as Slide Mold Shield, Ejector Pin Lube, and the company had not provided information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment.