OSHA Inspection: HOWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Jul 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Public Law 91-596, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 5(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees, in that employees were exposed to over-inflated rubber mandrels/bladders and amputation hazards while setting up the cylinder-mandrel assembly for Coil(s), e.g., #089, at Coil Winder(s), e.g., #6, due to the absence of pressure reducing devices (PRDs) on the inflation manifold(s).    (a) Coil Winding Department, at Winder #6 - On or about February 1, 2016, two employees were setting up a previously assembled 31 7/8 inch inside-diameter cylinder-mandrel assembly for high voltage transformer coil #089.  The four 30-40 inch inflatable rubber mandrels/bladders on the shaft, and under the pressed-board cylinder and metal sheeting, were not holding the required compressed air pressure.  At the time the employees were seeking the source of the air leak(s).  While re-inflating the four rubber mandrels/bladders one or more of the inflatable rubber mandrels became over-inflated due to the absence of Pressure Reducing Devices (PRDs) at the inflation manifold.  Afterwards, at least one of the overinflated mandrel(s) rolled out from under the cylinder assembly at the Winder's tailstock end causing the metal sheeting and the pressed-board cylinder to be propelled toward the Winder's headstock end resulting in severe injuries to the two employees.

Issued

Jul 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 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 activities covered by this section:    (a) Coil Winding Department, at Winder #6 - On or about February 1, 2016, two employees were having trouble setting up a previously assembled 31 7/8 inch inside-diameter cylinder-mandrel assembly for high voltage transformer coil #089.  The four 30-40 inch inflatable rubber mandrels/bladders on the shaft, under the pressed-board cylinder and metal sheeting, were not holding the required compressed air pressure; at the time, the employees were seeking the source of the air leak(s).  While re-inflating the four rubber mandrel/bladders, with the cylinder-mandrel assembly mounted in the bed of Winder #6, one or more of the inflatable rubber bladders became over-inflated, then rolled out from under the cylinder assembly at the Winder's tailstock end; this motion caused the metal sheeting and the pressed-board cylinder to be propelled toward the Winder's headstock end resulting in severe injuries to the two employees.  The employer's energy control program did not contain the specific procedural steps to be utilized for the control of the hazardous compressed air energy.  [Reference 1910.147(c)(4)(i)-(ii)]

Issued

Jul 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 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 rotating parts:      (a)  Coil Winding Department, at Winder #6 - On or about February 1, 2016, two employees were exposed to severe injury while setting up and re-inflating a previously assembled 31 7/8 inch inside-diameter cylinder-mandrel assembly for high voltage transformer coil #089 due to the absence of guards enclosing the cylinder-mandrel assembly while it was being inflated.