OSHA Inspection: THK MANUFACTURING OF AMERICA, INC.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Abate by

Jul 10, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $5,002 Reduced

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. In the die cast area, lock out procedures were not utilized when employees performed the task of changing dies in the die cast machines.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall 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, the following:    29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.    a. The specific energy control procedures for die casting machine DCH001 did not include specific steps such as but not limited to blocking and/or bleeding the hydraulic and pneumatic energy sources, and how long to wait for the thermal energy to cool.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Abate by

Aug 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $5,002 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  a. The employer did not conduct periodic inspections of their energy control procedures at least annually.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,157 · Current $4,002 Reduced

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. In the die casting area, guards were not in place to prevent employees from entering the area of a robotic arm that ladled molten aluminum into the die casting machine.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,617 · Current $3,001 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv): The Exposure Control Plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure.     a. The employer did not update the exposure control plan (Bloodborne Pathogens Program) at least annually as required.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii): Training shall be provided as follows:    29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(A): At the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place;    29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(B): At least annually thereafter.    a. The employer did not provide training at least annually to employees that may have occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.

Issued

Jun 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,696 · Current $5,002 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): Basic Requirement. Within twenty-four (24) hours after the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees or an employee's amputation or an employee's loss of an eye, as a result of a work-related incident, you must report the in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA.  At THK Manufacturing of America, Inc. located in Hebron, Ohio:  a. The employer did not report an amputation of a finger that occurred in the workplace within 24 hours of the incident as required.