OSHA Inspection: SUPERIOR METAL PRODUCTS INC.

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Apr 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,169 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)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to caught-in, struck by, amputation and other hazards from potentially hazardous stored energy while inspecting, servicing and maintaining machines without utilizing the procedures to control hazardous energy.    1) During the investigation of the Mori Seiki MV 55 CNC machining center on January 11, 2017, the electrical supply was switched off, locked out and tested, but no securing, bleeding and verify of the pneumatics, hydraulics or other sources of potentially hazardous stored energy, was performed exposing the employee to struck-by, caught-in and amputation hazards.   2)  An employee who replaces belts on the Bridgeport milling machines does not place locks on the electrical power supply after switching them off.  The employee is exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Apr 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)[A], (c)(4)(ii)[B], (c)(4)(ii)[C] and (c)(4)(ii)[D]:  a)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that the procedures to control hazardous energy in the machines in the shop were specific.  No machines had specific procedural steps documented for shutting down and securing machines [B]; placement and removal of lockout and tagout devices [C]; and specific requirements to verify the effectiveness of the energy control measures [D].    The current procedures  have "If" statements that the user must evaluate and relate to a particular machine to shut it down and secure it.  A specific procedure must tell the user the specific action to take to shut down and secure each machine (or type of machine).   The steps in the current procedures for the placement and removal of lockout devices tell the user to place locks and tags.  Specific procedural steps must tell the user which control measures to take at specific locations, such as a named electrical panel or a specifically identified valve.    The steps in the current procedures for testing and verifying energy control measures are generic requiring the user to evaluate the machine and its energy sources, rather than the procedure specifically identifying actions the user must take to verify effectiveness of control measures  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Apr 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,169 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)  On or about December 27, 2017, and at times prior, machine operators of the Mori Seiki MV 55 and MV 80 machining center CNC milling tools were exposed to amputation hazards during automatic tool changes.  The operation is unguarded.  An operator of the MV 55 had the tip of a finger amputated during an automatic tool change when reaching in to move the coolant line from being caught in the operation.      Abatement Note:  Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazardous condition include, but are not limited to: guarding the work area at all times that the machine center is performing operations with interlocked doors; guarding the swing area of the automatic tool changer preventing workers from accessing this area; move the control center work station away from the machine so that workers cannot reach into the danger zone during tool changes (guarding by proximity); and install closing doors and train and enforce work rules to close the doors before commanding the machining center to make any movement.      Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Mar 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,535 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:    a)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to explosion and fire hazards in the southwest corner of the building, from the oxygen and propylene tanks that were stored together.        Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Mar 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $1,901 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)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to electrical hazards in that the employer did not ensure that each electrical panel on the west wall of the north machine shop area was labeled for its purpose.  Most were unlabeled.  One panel was incorrectly labeled for the Number 2 Mori Seiki MV 55, but it did not connect to that machine, preventing quick shut of if required, and potentially creating hazards to the machine that was connected to the panel if it was shut off incorrectly.  Panels on the west wall at the south end of the building were also not labeled with their purposes.         Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Mar 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from electrical hazards by ensuring necessary access to electrical panels on the west wall of the machine shop.  They were blocked from access by a table of tools and cleaning supplies.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Feb 28, 2017

Abate by

Mar 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii): There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposes an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service:    (a)  On or about January 11, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to shock, burns, and fire hazards in that the insulation of the power cord to a scale attached to the pneumatic Sharp manual milling machine, SN 61110048, was torn open at the plug revealing the internal conductors and allowing contaminants in the cord and plulg.      Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").