OSHA Inspection: A & A TOWING SERVICES, LLC

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,078 · Current $100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A):    The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by a guardrail system.     On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing had not ensured a guardrail was installed on the walkway for the mezzanine and the mezzanine area located in the maintenance bay of the building.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,078 · Current $100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5):     Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan was less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades were not guarded so the openings were no larger than one-half (1/2) inch.    On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure a floor fan located in the maintenance bay was guarded so the openings were no larger than one-half (1/2) inch.  The fan had a flexible guard with openings that were 1 x 2.  The guard could flex enough to contact with the fan blades with minimal force applied.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,078 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(2):    Guard design. The safety guard shall cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections.    On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure a guard was installed to cover the spindle end, nut and wheel on a Central Machinery eight inch grinder located in the maintenance area of the building.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Abate by

Aug 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $1,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1):    Examination. Electric equipment was not free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.        On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not examine the electric equipment and ensure it was free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. The maintenance bay had the following hazards:      a)    A junction box inside of the maintenance area had several branch circuits where the wiring was hanging over a 20 ton press and metal racking/shelving.  Wire for several circuits were not protected by conduit or installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.  b)    A junction box inside of the maintenance area had approximately three feet of wiring hanging out of it for a 220 VAC circuit.  The wire conductors were exposed and not protected from accidental contact.  c)    A junction box inside of maintenance area was missing a cover, exposing live conductors.  The junction box was not grounded and did not provide a ground for the branch circuits fed from the box.  The junction box housed a circuit breaker used to turn the air compressor on and off.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Abate by

Aug 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7):   Mechanical execution of work. Electric equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.  On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure all wiring was installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.  A junction box inside of the maintenance area had several branch circuits where the wiring was hanging over a 20 ton press and metal racking/shelving.  Wire for several circuits were not protected by conduit or installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Abate by

Aug 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5):                                Grounding path. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures were not permanent, continuous, and effective.      On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure the path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures were permanent, continuous, and effective.  A junction box located in the maintenance bay was missing a cover. The box was not equipped with a ground buss bar.  The neutral buss bar was insulated; therefore, the enclosure was not grounded.  The box provided 115-220 VAC service to multiple circuits without providing a permanent and effective ground.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Abate by

Aug 15, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):   All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers identified for the purpose. Metal covers were  used and were not grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy.   On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure a junction box located in the maintenance bay had covers installed and identified for the purpose.  At the time of the inspection, the junction box was missing cover/faceplate, exposing the employees to approximately 220 VAC.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i):     Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket).     On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket). Employees were using damaged extension cords and equipment, which had external defects.  The following equipment was damaged:    a)    A Bel Aire air compressor in the maintenance area:  The conduit for the high pressure cutout switch was torn or separated and provided no protection for the conductors and the cover was removed exposing the employees to approximately 220 VAC.  The junction box attached to the Baldor motor on the air compressor was missing a protective cover, exposing the employees to approximately 220 VAC.    b)    Two extension cords had damaged outer jacket insulation; therefore, provided no strain relief.  One extension cord was used to power a Central Machinery eight inch grinder and the other was to facilitate maintenance and attached to a relocatable power tap on a work bench located in the maintenance bay.

Issued

Jul 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii):   Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  On or about 7/06/2017, Cardinal Towing did not ensure connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  The following extension cords were damaged. a)      Inside of the maintenance bay, an extension cord was used to power a Central Machinery eight inch grinder.  The outer jacket was damaged and provided not strain relief. b)      At the work bench inside of the maintenance bay, an extension cord was connected to a relocatable power tap.  Both ends of the extension cords outer jacket were damaged and did not provide any strain relief.