OSHA Inspection: WALKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 the hazard of getting caught-in or between a tipping forklift and the ground:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees operating a Hyster J40XNT electric sit down forklift utilized the operator restraint device (seatbelt). This forklift included an operator restraint device (seat belt); however, employee had not buckled the seat belt across the seat and did not use the seat belt, exposing the employee to the risk of getting caught-in/between the truck and the ground in the event of a truck tip over.    b) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees operating an SC 5200 series electric sit down forklift utilized the operator restraint device (seatbelt). This forklift included an operator restraint device (seat belt); however, the employee had not buckled the seat belt across the seat and did not use the seat belt, exposing the employee to the risk of getting caught-in/between the truck and the ground in the event of a truck tip over.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Aug 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $4,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure procedures were utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy during the repair, service work, tooling changes, and die setting on equipment which includes, but is not limited to, press brakes, CNC machines, band saws, and chop saws. Operators placed their hands in the point of operation while performing tooling changes and die setting without utilizing the hazardous energy control procedures developed for each machine. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Aug 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually.  Employees perform maintenance, tooling changes and cleaning of machines that include, but are not limited to, CNC lathes and milling machines, press brakes, band saws and punch presses.  During maintenance, tooling changes and servicing, unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury.  This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Aug 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 5, 2019, the employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees.  Employees performed maintenance, tooling changes and cleaning of machines that include, but are not limited to, CNC lathes and milling machines, press brakes, band saws and punch presses. Several employees were required to perform LOTO as a regular part of their job, but were not trained on LOTO procedures.  During maintenance, tooling changes and servicing, unexpected energizing, and startup, release of stored energy could occur and cause injury.  This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $4,300 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) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that one or more methods of machine guarding was provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area of a horizontal band saw with 5 inches of the unused portion of the blade exposed.  The horizontal band saw is used to cut various pieces of metal stock.  The saw had a partial guard on the unused portion to the right of the blade, but 5 inches of the unused portion of the blade were not covered during operation. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.    b)  Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that one or more methods of machine guarding was provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area of a Craftsman 12" vertical band saw with 1.5 inches of the unused portion of the blade exposed when the saw was in use.  The Craftsman band saw was used to cut pieces of plastic stock that measured 5 3/4 inches, which left a gap of approximately 1 1/2 inch between the top of the stock and the top part of the saw where the blade fed in to.  No additional guarding was installed on the saw to fill this gap. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Aug 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that the point of operation on three hydraulic press brakes were guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zones during operating cycles.  Operators placed their hands within two inches of the point of operation while holding material during the press brake operation. The employees used the press brakes to bend metal hardware products. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.    b) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that point of operation on a KBLH 500 shear was guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zones during operating cycles.  Operators are positioned within reaching distance of the point of operations while operating the shear.  The opening where the stock feeds was approximately 3 inches by 3 inches and approximately 3 inches from the opening to the blade.  The employees used the shear to cut metal hardware products from a larger stock to smaller sections. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):   a)  Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that a motor pulley powering a Craftsman 12" vertical band saw was guarded to protect operators and other employees working around the machine from coming into contact with the nip point.  The Craftsman band saw was used to cut pieces of plastic stock pieces.   The motor belt and pulley was not guarded where a 12 inch by 18 inch opening occurred, and the belt and pulley were 3 inches from the opening.  This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  a)  Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that an inclined belt powering a Craftsman 12" vertical band saw was guarded to protect operators and other employees working near the machine from coming into contact with the nip point.  The Craftsman band saw was used to cut pieces of plastic stock pieces.  The motor belt and pulley was not guarded where a 12 inch by 18 inch opening occurred, and the belt and pulley were 3 inches from the opening.  This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Aug 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,934 · Current $7,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(c)(1)(i): The employer did not provide and ensure the usage of point of operation guards or properly applied point of operation devices on every operation performed on mechanical power press(es):    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that point of operation on two mechanical power presses were guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zones during operating cycles.  Operators placed their hands within 1 inch of the point of operation while holding material during operation of the power press using the foot pedal to activate the machine. The employees use the mechanical power presses to punch various size holes in metal stock. This condition exposed employees to amputation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that compressed air used for cleaning purposes was reduced to less than 30 pounds per square inch (psi).  Employees in work sections throughout the facility used compressed air to blow off machines and workpieces using compressed air nozzles.  The nozzles are powered by 120 psi air source.  Several of the nozzles were not fitted with a relief device that drops the pressure to less than 30 psi if the flow is dead-ended.  This condition exposed employees to physical hazards, such as embolisms, associated with contacting compressed air at 120 psi.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $2,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(ii): Suitable extinguishing equipment was not maintained in a state of readiness for instant use:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that suitable extinguishing equipment was maintained in a state of readiness for instant use in the manual welding area.  Approximately 16 manual welding stations were used where the welding sparks struck cardboard boxes set on the ground near each welder.  The hand welding area had two fire extinguishers located in the middle of the bay approximately 75 feet from the farthest welding station.  In the event of a fire, the welder would need to travel around shelving and other equipment, approximately 25-75 feet to access the fire extinguisher, and then travel back to the work station to extinguish the fire.  This condition exposed employees to fire and burn hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(1): The employer did not provide fire watchers whenever welding or cutting was performed, where appreciable combustible material in building construction or contents was closer than 35 feet (10.7 m) to the point of operation:  a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not provide fire watchers whenever welding or cutting was performed, where appreciable combustible material was closer than 35 feet to the areas that welding and grinding were taking place.  Approximately 16 manual welding stations were used in the manual welding area where the welding sparks struck cardboard boxes set on the ground near each welder.  No fire watch system was established within the welding area where the combustible materials were located.  This condition exposed employees to fire and burn hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,796 · Current $3,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:    a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed.  Maintenance employees performed electrical testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance on electrical circuits up to 480 volts, and these employees were not provided with electrical protective equipment appropriate to the tasks performed. This condition exposed employees to electrical shock and burn hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jul 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that several metal electrical outlet boxes in the grinding area were used in accordance with listed instructions.  Flexible cords were connected to outlet boxes that included pre-punched knockouts, and these knockouts could become dislodged with frequent handling.  A 4-plex outlet box used in the grinding area had several knockouts removed where flexible cords were connected to supply power to various tools and lights.  This 4-plex box was laying on the ground, and had exposed inner insulation.  This condition exposed employees to electrical shock hazards.  b) Walker Manufacturing located at 5925 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528:  On and preceding May 1, 2019, the employer did not ensure that several flexible cords and power strips within the manual welding area were used in accordance with listed instructions.  The manual welding area included shop lighting and other portable equipment that was by powered by flexible cords and power strips plugged in series (daisy chained).  This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.