OSHA Inspection: VALMONT UTILITY

Issued

Feb 21, 2019

Abate by

Mar 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,366 · Current $9,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(5): Supervision for the correct use of all hearing protectors was not ensured.    On or about January 23, 2019 and at times prior thereto, correct wear and proper fitting of hearing protectors were not supervised and ensured by supervisors and management of Valmont Utility. Employee(s) required to work in the plant were exposed to sound levels in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average Action Level of 85 decibels and a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 decibels on an A-weighted scale (dBA), exposing employees to the hazards of noise.    a) Employee(s) required to work in batch plant, assembly, pour hopper, de-molding, spinner operating and finishing areas were exposed to sound level decibels in an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to a 228% dose, which is equivalent to approximately 95.9 dBA and approximately 4 times the Action Level of 85 dBA. The noise sampling was performed for up to 650 minutes.     b) Employee(s) required to work in batch plant, assembly, pour hopper, de-molding, spinner operating and finishing areas were exposed to sound level decibels in an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to a 208% dose, which is equivalent to approximately 95.9 dBA and approximately 2 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 dBA. The noise sampling was performed for up to 650 minutes.

Issued

Feb 21, 2019

Abate by

Mar 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,366 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s).    On or about January 23, 2019 and at times prior thereto, in the Production Shop, Steel Forming Roller (H5 CRT 6) was not guarded at all points of operation, exposing operator(s) to the hazards of being caught in the machine.

Issued

Feb 21, 2019

Abate by

Mar 5, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,683 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.    On or about January 23, 2019 and at times prior thereto, a Milwaukee 14 inch Abrasive Cut-Off Machine, CAT #6177-20, was not securely anchored to table to prevent machine from moving during operation, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by the saw blade.

Issued

Feb 21, 2019

Abate by

Mar 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,683 · Current $4,000 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.    On or about January 23, 2019 and at times prior thereto, employee(s) working in the assembly area placing steel rings to secure cables on concrete utility pole molds were not wearing appropriate glasses or goggles to provide protection from welding rays, exposing employee(s) to the hazards of ultraviolet radiation.