OSHA Inspection: RIDGE CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $11,224 · Current $13,257

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.    a. On or about May 24, 2016, the employer did not ensure that each authorized employee performing service and maintenance activities were trained to effectively perform lockout and tagout in order to isolate and control the hazardous energy sources prior to performing activities such as, but not limited to, belt repairs, die changes, die adjustments, waterjet adjustments, and cleaning.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $11,224 · Current $13,257

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):    a. On or about May 12, 2016, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, pinch points, and laceration hazards during waterjet table set up, adjustments and maintenance. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as LOTO devices were not applied to the water pump disconnects and main waterjet table disconnect [per the 1910.147(d)(4) requirements]. As a result, the remaining applicable energy elements, involving dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.       b. On or about May 12, 2016, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with the moving parts, pinch points, and laceration hazards during the Rhonda re-winder set-up and removal of materials. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps to protect employees from the machine hazards.        c. On or about May 12, 2016, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, pinch points, and thermal hazards during die changes, maintenance, and cleaning of the Line 4 forming equipment. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.       d. On or about May 12, 2016, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, pinch points, and thermal hazards during die changes, maintenance, and cleaning of the Line 1 forming equipment. The employer failed to implement energy control application to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.      e. On or about June 3, 2016, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, pinch pints, and thermal hazards during a belt change on the Rhonda Lamination machine. The employer failed to ensure that all authorized employees applied lockout/tagout devices to each energy isolating device [per 1910.147(d)(4)(i].

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,017 · Current $13,257

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.    a. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, employees were operating a Hyster battery powered forklift, Model E120XL, Serial CO98D02616T, at the facility. The forklift had a damaged hydraulic hose, rear lights, and backup alarm, exposing employees to a crushed by hazard.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $11,224 · Current $13,257

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.    a. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, employees operating the Line 1A pneumatic forming press were exposed the pinch point between the upper die holder and the lower flange of the upper limit beam while resetting the mechanical counter during production      b. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, employees performing work at and near the Rhonda waterjet table were exposed to unguarded sprockets at the ends of the tables chain belt conveyor.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $11,224 · Current $13,257

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be 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.    a. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from the point of operation of an automated 50,000 psi waterjet used to cross-cut laminated material on the Rhonda Lamination Line. The condition exposed employees to a struck by hazard.       b. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from the point of operation of the 50,000 psi waterjets used to cut the edges of the laminated material on the Rhonda Lamination Line. The condition exposed employees to a stuck by hazard.       c. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that the plastic barrier guards used to protect employees from the point of operation of the 50,000 psi waterjets used to slit laminated material were secured in place. The condition exposed employees to a struck by hazard.       d. On or about May 12, 2016 and at times prior, the employer did not provide a means of guarding to ensure employees were protected from being crushed in the point of operation between the forming dies at the entrance end of the Line 1B pneumatic forming press.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $11,224 · Current $13,257

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the following means:    a. On or about May 24, 2016 and at times prior, the Line 1B heaters had exposed 277 volt electrical connections, exposing employees to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $112,238 · Current $13,257 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, shall be 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.    a. On or about May 25, 2016 and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure employees were protected from being crushed in the point of operation between the forming dies at the entrance and exit ends of the Line 4 curbside pneumatic forming press.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $16,034 · Current $13,257 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;    a. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees handling composite material at the exit end of the Rhonda lamination line were wearing gloves as identified in the hazard assessments, exposing employees to laceration hazards.     Ridge Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1077942, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/21/2015, with respect to a workplace located at 5577 Raiders Road in Frazeysburg, Ohio, 43822.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $22,448 · Current $22,448

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.  Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.  a. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer had not developed, documented and implemented energy control procedures for the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) for equipment associated with the Rhonda Lamination Line operations, including the lamination machine and waterjet table. During the covered activities, employees were exposed to struck by and caught in hazards.     b. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer had not developed, documented and implemented energy control procedures for the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) for equipment associated with the Line 4 forming operations, including the pneumatic forming press, panel heaters and robot station. During the covered activities, employees were exposed to struck by, caught in and thermal hazards.    c. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer had not implemented energy control procedures for the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) for equipment associated with the Line 1 forming operations, including the pneumatic forming press, panel heaters and conveyor. During the covered activities, employees were exposed caught in and thermal hazards.   Ridge Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1077942, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/21/2015, with respect to a workplace located at 5577 Raiders Road in Frazeysburg, Ohio, 43822.

Issued

Oct 24, 2016

Abate by

Nov 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.  a. On or about May 12, 2016, the employer did not ensure that all operators were evaluated on the safe operation of the forklifts once every three years.