OSHA Inspection: WESTERN GROUP

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2320.00 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 from struck by hazards or falling loads:    (a) Facility, Test Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about June 4, 2015 the employer did not verify that below the hook lifting devices were designed by or under the direct supervision of a qualified person.    The employer does not have any documentation relating to the devices' design and capacity.      The lifting devices are "homemade" and there are no markings to show the rated load, manufacturer, serial number, lifter weight or design.    The employer does not have an inspection process (every lift, frequent and periodic) to ensure there is no damage to the lifting devices prior to use.    The lifting devices are used to move tubes weighing between 3500 - 10000 lbs. into and out of the test wells.  On May 26, 2015 an employee was using a lifting device, attached to the 2 ton crane hook, to move a tube to the test well.  The lifting device failed and the tube fell to the floor crushing and bending the metal grating.  The lifting device had not been subjected to inspections and there were no markings to show the rated load, manufacturer, serial number weight or design.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1785.00 · Current $1160.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(b)(1): Aisles and passageways were not kept clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard:    (a) Facility, Test Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the passageways in the test bay area were not kept in good repair in that the metal grating that covered pits was bent and stuck up above the walking surfaces approximately 2 inches exposing employees to tripping hazards.  Employees work in the area of the grates operating the crane and test equipment and are exposed to trip and fall hazards from the uneven surfaces.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2320.00 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) Facility, Paint Bays, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not provide fall protection equipment for employees who work on top of tubes and trailers to perform sanding and painting operations.  The employees are exposed to fall hazards of approximately 10 feet to the ground below.    (b) Facility, Blast Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not provide fall protection equipment for the employee who works on top of the tubes and trailers to perform blasting operations.  The employee has a fall hazard of approximately 10 feet to the ground below.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1785.00 · Current $1160.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii): The employer's energy control program procedures did not successfully comply with 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(3) and no lockout was provided for employee protection:    (a) Facility, Test Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/16/15 during maintenance of the Wheelabrator, a tag was being used to isolate the equipment instead of a lock.  The equipment is capable of being locked out but a tag was used thereby not providing full employee protection.  The employer's program states that locks shall be used to isolate energy devices.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not conduct a period inspection, at least annually, of the energy control procedures to ensure the requirements of the standard were being followed.  NOTE: The employer should complete a certification record that would identify the machine or equipment on which the control procedure was utilized, the date of inspection, the employees included in the inspection and the name of the person performing the inspection.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv): The employer did not certify that employee training had been accomplished and kept up to date:  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer had not certified that employee training had been conducted on the purpose and function of the energy control program.  NOTE:  The certification shall contain each employee's name and dates of training.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2320.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(b)(6)(ii): Where passageways or walkways were provided, obstructions were so placed that the safety of personnel was jeopardized by movements of crane(s):    (a) Facility, Test Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the passageways in the test bay where employees move to operate the crane were not clear of obstructions.  The tubes ready for testing are unloaded from trailers and stored on the floor in the immediate work area. The employees have to travel over and around them to move a tube from the storage area to the test wells.  Due to the limited mobility in the area bungee cords have been attached to the pendant so employees can hold on to it while traveling over the tubes.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(2)(iii): Monthly inspections of hooks, with a certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the hook inspected, were not performed:  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not perform monthly inspections of the hooks and complete a certification record containing the date of inspection, signature of the person who completed the inspection and the serial number or identifier of the hook inspected.  The employer has 4 overhead cranes and no monthly inspections of the hook are being conducted.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(3): A complete periodic inspection of crane(s) had not been conducted in the past 12 months:  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer had not completed a periodic inspection of the 4 overhead cranes used in the facility within the past 12 months.  The employer's last periodic inspection for the overhead cranes was conducted in October, 2012.  The cranes are used daily by the employees and the employer did not have a periodic inspection conducted to ensure there are no deficiencies such as, but not limited to: cracked or corroded members, loose bolts, cracked or worn sheaves and drums, cracked pins, bearings, shafts, excessive wear on the brake system parts and other items as it pertains to the components of the crane.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(m)(1): Thorough monthly inspections of rope conditions, with written, dated and signed reports, were not performed on the running ropes:  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not conduct monthly inspections of rope conditions, with written, dated and signed reports for the 4 overhead cranes used in the facility.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2380.00 · Current $1647.00 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) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 no guarding was provided on the Pacific 150 ton hydraulic press brake to prevent the operator from placing any part of their body in the danger zone during operation.  The press is used daily by employees to bend metals used in the fabrication of trailers.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1785.00 · Current $1062.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:    (a) Facility, Outside Nitrogen Storage Area, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/16/15 electrical conduit was broken in several places exposing the conductors.  The installation is located outdoors and the broken conduit did not protect the conductors from wet and damp conditions.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the employer did not have any certification records to ensure that each operator who uses the powered industrial trucks had been trained and evaluated as required.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):  (a) Facility, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/04/15 the Linde powered industrial truck did not have a functioning backup alarm.  This deficiency had been noted the week prior and the equipment had not been taken out of service.  Employees continued to operate the equipment, traveling in reverse, with no functioning backup alarm.

Issued

2015-07-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(c)(14): Employers must not use slings without affixed and legible identification markings:  (a) Facility, Weld Shop, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/05/15 employees were using synthetic slings that did not have any labels or identification markings that listed the reach, capacity and type.  (b) Facility, Load Bay, 1406 Perry Highway, Portersville, PA:  On or about 06/05/15 a synthetic sling available for use did not have any labels or identification markings affixed to show the capacity, reach or type.