OSHA Inspection: VALLEY DIE CASTINGS, INC.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,398 · Current $2,699 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): Access and egress; The employer did not provide, and did not ensure that each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces:    On November 12, 2019, and times prior thereto, in the die casting production area,  employees accessing and egressing the catwalk at the die cast machine were exposed to fall and slip hazards from an unsecured stair step.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $3,374 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A): Guardrail systems; The employer did not provide a guardrail system:    On November 12, 2019, and times prior thereto, in the die casting production area,  employees walking and working on the catwalk around a furnace, adjacent to a die cast machine were exposed to injuries related to a falls and burns.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,723 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    On October 31, 2019, in the die casting production area,  the employer did not provide affected employees exposed to molten, liquid, metal with personal protection equipment for the face and eyes during maintenance of the die cast machine.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $4,723 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(b): There was neither an infirmary, clinic, or hospital used for the treatment of all injured employees in near proximity to the workplace nor a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid:    On November 8, 2019, located at Valley Die Castings, Inc., an employee sustained an amputation to her finger and not provided first aid and transported to a clinic or hospital to seek immediate medical treatment.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

Penalty

Initial $18,892 · Current $9,446 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:    On November 13, 2019, and times prior thereto, Casting Department Production Area,  the employer did not enforce the use of control procedures to control hazardous energies during repairing of Die Cast Machine #3 by employees.    The Valley Die Casting, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1214360, citation number 1, item number 2 a and was affirmed as a final order on June 23, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 5216 N. 26th Street, McAllen, TX 78504.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

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:  On November 13, 2019, and times prior thereto, Casting Department Production Area,  the employer did not conduct annual, periodic inspections of the energy control procedure for Die Cast Machine #3.  The Valley Die Casting, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.147(c)(6)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1214360, citation number 1, item number 2 b and was affirmed as a final order on June 23, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 5216 N. 26th Street, McAllen, TX 78504.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

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:  On November 13, 2019, and times prior thereto, Casting Department Production Area,  the employer did not provide adequate training to ensure the energy control program was understood by employees.  The Valley Die Casting, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.147(c)(7)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1214360, citation number 1, item number 2 c and was affirmed as a final order on June 23, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 5216 N. 26th Street, McAllen, TX 78504.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $18,892 · Current $9,446 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:    Employees in the plant production areas, performed tasks using unguarded machines provided by the employer, exposing employees to injuries related to point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks from the operating machines:    a) October 31, 2019, an employee sustained burn injuries while working, conducting maintenance to an unguarded die cast machine.  Hot, melted, liquified, molten, metal from die trays,  splattered; Striking employee.    b) November 8, 2019, an employee sustained an amputation injury, working, drilling holes, using an unguarded drill press machine.       The Valley Die Castings, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1337198, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on September 25, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 5208 N. 26th Street, McAllen, TX 78504.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

May 22, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $3,374 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): Within twenty-four (24) hours after the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees or an employee's amputation or an employee's loss of an eye, as a result of a work-related incident, you must report the in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA:    At this establishment, employees sustained injuries requiring in-patient hospitalizations from two separate instances.  The employer did not report to OSHA within 24 hours that an employee had been hospitalized for each incident:    a)  On October 31, 2019, Casting Department, Die Cast Machine #3, an employee sustained burn injuries requiring in-patient hospitalization.    b)  On November 8, 2019, Secondary Department, Geared-Head Drill Press Machine #F33, an employee sustained an amputation requiring in-patient hospitalization.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $757 · Current $379 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iv): There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment, such as parts that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating:    On November 12, 2019, and times prior thereto, in the die casting production area, covers to the electrical panel, junction box, and hydraulic valve were missing to a die cast machine, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock.