OSHA Inspection: WHEELER TANK MANUFACTURING, INC.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards:    (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees performing work in the small tanks shop, the large tank shop and the stainless steel shop were protected from struck-by hazards in that latch-equipped hooks were not used  with overhead cranes. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard can be found in ASME B30.2-2005, Overhead and Gantry Cranes, Section 2-1.14.5, "Latch-equipped hooks shall be used unless the application makes the use of the latch impractical or unnecessary."

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): 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:     (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 31, 2019 the employer did not ensure that employees performing work including, but not limited to, welding and quality control processes, on the top of tanks in the large tank shop at a height greater than four feet above ground level were protected from fall hazards. This condition exposed employees to fall hazards.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags or decals of the powered industrial truck were not changed accordingly:    (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure that the Nissan 50 Model: MCP1F2A25LV data plate was updated for use with fork extensions prior to use. This condition exposed employees to hazards related to overloading the forklift.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a forklift:  (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees had completed practical training prior to being permitted to operate forklifts. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.  (b) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were provided specific operating instructions, warnings or precautions for each type of vehicle that the employee is being trained to operate. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,800 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) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from caught-in hazards created by movement of the ALLtra plasma table gantry over the track system when using the adjacent main walkway.     (b) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from caught-in hazards created by movement of the ALLtra plasma table gantry over the track system when performing work from on the work platform on the south side of the plasma table.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(i): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, was not appropriately guarded.   (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from caught-between hazards when operating the Piranha 350-ton press (Serial#: 1005) by use of appropriate guarding at the point of operation. This condition exposed employees to caught-between hazards.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not required to wear appropriate goggles, to protect them from the rays when noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields were not used:    (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from eye hazards associated with process radiation from the plasma table when performing work on the work platform on the south side of the plasma table or using the walkway in close proximity to the north side of the welding table by use of welding curtains or other appropriate means. This condition exposed employees to eye hazards.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:  (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure the exit sign on the southeast exit door of the small tank shop was illuminated. This condition exposed employees to hazards related to emergency egress.  (b) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure the east exit door of the large tank shop was not illuminated. This condition exposed employees to hazards related to emergency egress.

Issued

May 16, 2019

Abate by

Jun 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:  (a) Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, Inc. at 4001 North 4th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees received an educational program to familiarize themselves with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting regarding fire extinguishers provided in the workplace. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.