OSHA Inspection: A. FINKL & SONS CO.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Abate by

Jan 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including isolating the permit space:    a) On or about June 22, 2018, in Heat Treat area, employees were required to enter the large Heavy Heat Treat tank, a permit-required confined space. The Heavy Heat Treat Tank's recirculating water supply line was not properly isolated. The employer did not use blanking, blinding, misaligning or removing section of lines or pipes or a block and bleed system to isolate the permit-required confined space.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(vii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide and ensure that employees use that equipment, such as ladders, needed for safe ingress and egress by authorized entrants:    a) On or about June 22, 2018, at the above located workplace, employees in the Heat Treat area were required to climb up without a ladder onto an approximately four foot high walking-working surface at the top of the large heavy heat treat tank without guard rails or other safe means of fall protection. The opposite side edge of the walking-working surface was approximately 16 feet deep above the floor of the tank. The edge was unguarded. Employees were thereby exposed to a fall hazard of approximately 16 feet.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Abate by

Jan 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,097 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(7): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify the hazards of the permit space to be entered:    a) On or about June 20, 2018, employees in the Melt shop were required to enter the Vacuum Degasser, a permit-required confined space. The permit used for entry did not identify the hazards of the permit space.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Abate by

Jan 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,163 · Current $7,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(h): The employer did not ensure that all authorized entrants were trained to perform the duties required by (h)(1)-(5) of this section (29 CFR 1910.146):    a) On or about June 22, 2018, employees required to enter the large heavy heat treat tank, a permit-required confined space, were not trained to acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties which included:    i) the hazards that could be faced during entry, including information on the mode, sign or symptoms, and consequences   of the exposure.  ii) the properly used equipment as required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4).  iii) how to communicate with the attendant as necessary to enable the attendant to monitor entrant status and to enable the attendant to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the spaces required by paragraph 29 CFR 1910.146(i)(6).  iv) To alert the attendant whenever the entrant recognized any warning sign or symptom of exposure to dangerous situations, or prohibited condition.  v) To exit from the permit space as quickly as possible whenever an order to evacuate is given, the entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation, prohibited conditions or an evacuation alarm is activated.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Abate by

Jan 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(14): The employer did not review the permit-required confined space program, using the canceled permits retained under 29 CFR 1910.146(e)(6), within one year after each entry and revise the program as necessary, to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are protected from permit space hazards.    a) On or about June 20, 2018, employees in the Melt shop were required to enter the Vacuum Degasser permit-required confined space. The employer's Confined Space Entry Program was last reviewed on or about July 25, 2016. The employer had not reviewed the permit-required confined space program, using the canceled permits retained under 29 CFR 1910.146(e)(6), within one year after each entry and revise the program as necessary to ensure that employees participating in entry operations were protected from permit space hazards.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Abate by

Jan 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(2)(ii): An energy isolating device that was capable of being locked out, did not utilize a lockout device, which rendered the machine or equipment inoperative:    a) On or about June 26, 2018, in the Heat Treat Department, employees were required to work in and around the large heavy quench tank and its circulating water pump's energy isolating device (electrical disconnect) had a string and tag in place of a lock.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(3)(ii): The employer did not demonstrate full employee protection which included the implementation of additional safety measures such as the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, opening of an extra disconnect device, or the removal of a valve handle to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent energization:    a) On or about June 26, 2018, in the Heat Treat Department, employees were required to work in and around the large heavy quench tank and its circulating water pump's electrical disconnect. The disconnect had a tagout device attached. The tagout device did not include additional safety measures such as the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, opening of an extra disconnect device, or the removal of a valve handle to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent energization.

Issued

Dec 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(2): Means of attachment of tagout devices utilized by the employer were not of a non-reusable type, attachable by hand, self-locking, and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds:    a) On or about July 2, 2018, in the Heat Treat Department, employees were required to work with and around the large heavy quench tank, its circulating water pump and the water pump's electrical disconnect. The disconnect had a tag on it without a lock. The tag was attached with a string. The tagout device had an unlocking strength of less than 50 pounds. Employees were thereby exposed to hazards associated with a sudden release of water.