OSHA Inspection: STEELCON INC.

Issued

Jan 21, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $1,020 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)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 employees of the employer were exposed to the hazard of compressed air of up to 140 psi being transported through unlabeled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes throughout the shop.  This condition exposed employees to being struck-by shards of PVC in the event of a pipe failure.        One feasible method to correct this hazard is to follow American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D1785-86, which states PVC pipe can be used for the transportation of compressed air and gases only if the PVC pipe is made of shatter resistant material or is encased in a shatter resistant material.      Another feasible method is to replace the PVC piping with metal piping approved to transport compressed air above ground.

Issued

Jan 21, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,275 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)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 employees of the employer were exposed to the hazard of being struck by material weighing in excess of 1,000 pounds, in that numerous latches were damaged or missing on numerous overhead crane hooks throughout the shop.  This condition exposed employees to falling material when overhead cranes are used to lift and move material.      One feasible method to correct this hazard is to follow Section 2-1.14.5, Hooks, of ASME 30.2-2001, Overhead and Gantry Cranes: Latch-equipped hooks shall be used unless the application makes the use of the latch impractical or unnecessary.

Issued

Jan 21, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)(2):  More than 120 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable or combustible liquids in containers were located outside of inside storage room(s) or storage cabinet(s):      (a)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer stored more than 120 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable or combustible liquids in containers inside the storage shed located outside of the main building.  This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  Machine guarding was not provided to protect operators and other employees from hazards created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:      (a)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer did not ensure that the unused portion of the reciprocating blade on the HYD-MECH, V-18 Series II horizontal band saw was guarded.  This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards when contacting the blade.      (b)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer did not ensure that the unused portion of the reciprocating blade on the ITALY vertical band saw was guarded.  This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards when contacting the blade.

Issued

Jan 21, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Darley shear cutting machine located in the shop was properly guarded in accordance with Subpart O, Table O-10.  The measured distance of 5.5 inches from the bottom edge of the guard that was installed to the point of operation required an opening of no greater than 3/4 inches.  The opening was approximately 2 inches.  This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.    (b)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer did not ensure the point of operation of the punch function on the Piranha ironworker was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.  (c)  SteelCon, Inc. at 668 N 7th Ave, Brighton, CO 80601:  On or before July 21, 2015 the employer did not ensure the point of operation on the Accurpress hydraulic press brake #717512 was properly guarded to prevent employees from having any part of the their body in the danger zone during operation.  Operators placed their hands close to the die when bending small pieces of material during press brake operation.  This hazard exposed the employees to an amputation hazard.    Abatement Note:  Press brake safeguarding can be accomplished by using one of the following:    (a)   Presence Sensing Device - Designed to automatically stop the machine when the sensing field is interrupted. (b)  Two-Hand Control Device - Designed to keep the operators hands away from the point of operation by requiring two hands to engage the machine. (c)   Pullback Device - Designed to pull the operator's hands away from the area of the closing dies during each stroke of the press. (d)  Restraint Device - Designed and adjusted so that the operator can never reach the point of operation.    Note:  Safeguarding by maintaining a "safe distance" is acceptable only when safeguarding by physical barrier or devices is not feasible and the employer demonstrates that power press brake point of operation guarding by maintaining a safe distance is limited to one-time only fabrication of made-to-order or custom-made piece parts.  Small quantity runs, typically performed in job shop or model shop establishments may be affected by this provision; high volume piece part rates of production will not.  A "small quantity run" means fabrication of more than one of the same piece parts over a continuous time frame of no more than four hours per month.    Note:  Two-hand control, as a point of operation safeguarding device for press brakes, is ideal for short-run job-shop operations. Piece parts can vary from quite small to very large.  The steps are as follows: Step 1 - By depressing the control buttons, the operator initiates the press brake stroke. Step 2 - The operator must hold the buttons until the slide completes its downward travel.  If the operator removes a hand from one of the controls, the slide will stop.  In the single stroke or Hi/Lo mode, the slide will make one complete stroke. Step 3 - In the sequence mode, the slide will automatically stop at a preset position 1/4" or less above the work piece.  This position is adjustable for different feed-line heights or material thickness. Step 4 - If the work piece is not already placed in the die, it may be inserted at this time. Step 5 - The two-hand control or the foot switch is now re-initiated, causing the slide to continue through the bottom of the stroke and finishing at top dead center (TDC).