OSHA Inspection: SUPERCON, INC

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $1,989 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(A)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to crushing  injuries from lack of seat belt use while operating a forklift:   On the workroom floor at 830 Boston Turnpike Shrewsbury, MA: On or about December 3, 2018, a powered industrial truck (PIT) operator was exposed to crushing hazards as an employee was operating a powered industrial truck on the workroom floor and was not wearing a seat belt.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $4,641 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The  point of operation of machines whose operation exposed an employee to injury, was not guarded:  Machine Shop, Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and about December 3, 2018, an employee was operating lathe, MS 9, without the guards in place.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,315 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):  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and before December 3, 2019, pulleys on the motors at the wet draw were not properly guarded as holes had been cut out of the guards leaving the pulleys exposed.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

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:  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and before December 3, 2019, belts on the motors at the wet draw were not properly guarded as holes had been cut out of the guards leaving the belts exposed.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Abate by

Apr 22, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,652 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and before December 3, 2018 electrical equipment was used outside its listing and labeling creating electric shock and burn hazards:  a.  In the maintenance office, a 2 outlet box was modified to include a three prong male outlet that was plugged into another outlet and attached with a metal strip.  This was powering the battery supply for a computer.  b.  Relocatable power tap providing power to pumps and other equipment at the small spool storage.  These are designed for low amperage equipment such as office electronics including computers, monitors, printers, and calculators.  c.  In the QC area a junction box with a 2 pole switch was used as an extension cord and plugged into a relocatable power tap.  d.  In the QC area a relocatable power tap had been modified and hard wired into a 4x4 box.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and before December 3, 2018 extension cords were used in lieu of permanent wiring.  a.  In the QC office, the small wire tester was powered by an orange extension cord.  b.  In Randy's QC lab relocatable power taps were used as extension cords to power lab equipment.  c.  In the machine shop, an extension cord was used to power vent fan.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $1,989 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:  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On or about December 3, 2018, electric panels in the facility were blocked by equipment, not permitting ready and safe operation of the energy control devices inside the panels.  a.  Machine shop - Unmarked panel was blocked by equipment preventing access for employees to open breakers in emergency or for maintenance.  b.  Workroom floor, main aisle, panel HLP1, 480 volt panel was blocked by equipment.

Issued

Mar 6, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,652 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:  Supercon, Inc., 830 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; On and before December 3, 2018 the ground pin on the Milwaukee portable bandsaw on the floor by the drawing table was missing exposing employees to electric shock hazards.