OSHA Inspection: MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

May 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $9,282 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. On or about January 23, 2019, located on the Finishing Line at the front of the seamer, employees were exposed to the hold down and heat bar as the light curtains were too high, thereby exposing the employees to a caught-between and/or thermal hazards.     b. On or about January 23, 2019, located on the Finishing Line at the back of the seamer, employees were exposed to the hold down bar, heat bar, moving saw cutting head and its blade when employees went behind a movable hinged guard, thereby exposing the employees to caught-between, thermal, struck-by, and/or point-of-operation hazards.    c. On or about January 23, 2019, located on the Finishing Line at the laminator machine, there were two saw blades that were inadequately guarded, thereby exposing employees to point-of-operation hazards.    d. On or about January 23, 2019, located on the Finishing Line at the windup, there were pneumatic rams located on each side of the machine. Both rams had a pinch point between the ram and its connected support bar when actuated to its top end limit, thereby exposing the employees to a caught-between hazard.     e. On or about January 23, 2019, located on the Finishing Line at the windup, there were nine unguarded roller belts where employees fed plastic into the rotation logs of padding, thereby exposing the employees to the in-going nip point where the belt meets the roller.