OSHA Inspection: GEM INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 23, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,803 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. At the shop, employees were exposed to the inadvertent activation of machines and machine components such as, but not limited to, an Accurpress press brake, an Accurshear shear machine, milling machines, an Ercolina bending machine, a compressor, and horizontal and vertical band saws, in that, equipment specific lockout procedures were not developed and implemented for the control of hazardous energy during cleaning and maintenance operations, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $5,324 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. High bay area, employees were exposed to an unguarded rotating saw band, in that, the left and right side of the point of operation of the S-20P Hyd-Mech series III horizontal band saw did not have a guard enclosing the rotating saw band as required, on or about 12/08/2016.   b. High bay area, employees were exposed to an unguarded rotating saw band, in that, the right side of the point of operation of the Ellis horizontal band saw did not have a guard enclosing the rotating saw band as required and the left side had a guard which was bent allowing the blade to be exposed, on or about 12/08/2016.   c. High Bay area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that the Clausing Colcbester 15 inch lathe was not provided with a guard over the 4 jaw chuck, on or about 12/08/2016.   d. Shop area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, the top and left side of a belt sander had the guards removed and not replaced, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 23, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $5,324 Reduced

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. High Bay area, employees were exposed to an amputation hazard, in that, a point of operation guard was not provided for the foot pedal operated Accurpress press brake, on or about 12/08/2016.  b. High Bay area, employees were exposed to an amputation hazard, in that, the point of operation guard for the foot pedal operated Accurshear was partly removed and not replaced, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:  a. High Bay area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, a Sears Craftsman Drill press was not secured to the ground as required to prevent it from tipping over, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,803 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):   a. High Bay area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, the two Bridgeport milling machines had unguarded rotating pulleys at the top of the machines located 5 feet 9 inches from the floor on both sides of the machine, on or about 12/08/2016.   b. Shop area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, a belt sander had an unguarded rotating pulley located 14 inches from the floor, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:  a. High Bay area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, the two Bridgeport milling machines had unguarded rotating belts at the top of the machines located 5 feet 9 inches from the floor on both sides of the machine, on or about 12/08/2016.  b. Shop area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, a belt sander had an unguarded rotating belt located 14 inches from the floor, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields:  a. At the shop area, employees working near welding stations were exposed to the UV rays of aluminum TIG welding operations, in that, the welding stations were not enclosed with welding screens or shields, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:   a. Sub-Panel B, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the 15 breakers in the panel were not provided with a label to indicate their purpose, on or about 12/18/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  a. Sub-Panel B, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the space in front of the panel was used for storage by having a welder, railings and stands stored thus blocking access to the panel, on or about 12/18/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not protected from abrasions:  a. High Bay area near the milling machines, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the wiring to a floor fan was not provided with abrasion protection to protect the conductors entering the fan's casing, on or about 12/08/2016.  b. Shop area in a welding station, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the wiring to a Miller Syncrowave 351 power source did not have abrasion protection to protect the conductors entering the welder's casing, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   a. Sub-Panel A, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, an opening for two breakers was not covered, on or about 12/18/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose and each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:  a. High Bay area at the left side of the Accurpress press brake, employees were expose to an electrical hazard, in that, a junction box did not have a cover and the capped conductors were protruding from the box, on or about 12/08/2016.  b. At the men's restroom, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the light switch outlet was not provided with a cover, on or about 12/08/2016.  c. At the break room, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, an outlet used to power the microwave was not provided with a cover, on or about 12/08/2016.  d. At the tool room, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, two light switch outlets were not provided with a cover, on or about 12/08/2016.  e. At the stairway to the shop's supervisor office, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the light switch outlet at the bottom of the stairway was not provided with a cover, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a. High bay area, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, a red extension cord was used to provide power to the Ellis band saw, on or about 12/08/2016.  b. High bay area behind the press brake, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, extension cords was used with a multi-outlet plug to provide power to equipment and lighting near the milling machines and drill press, on or about 12/08/2016.  c. High Bay area, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, a yellow extension cord was used to provide power to the Clausing Colcbester 15 inch lathe, on or about 12/08/2016.  d. Shop area, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, a black extension cord was used to provide power to a chop saw, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  a. High Bay area near the milling machines, employees were exposed to an electrical hazard, in that, the wiring to a floor fan at the plug and at the fan casing was not provided with strain relief to prevent pull from being transmitted to the connections or terminal screws, on or about 12/08/2016.

Issued

Feb 3, 2017

Abate by

Feb 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(j)(4)(vi): Individual disconnecting means were not provided for each motor:  a. High Bay area, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, the two Bridgestone Milling machines were hard wired and were not provided with a main disconnect so that the machines could be isolated from their power supply, on or about 12/08/2016.