OSHA Inspection: UNITED ROTARY BRUSH CORPORATION

Issued

Apr 14, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,359 · Current $13,359

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): Training and communication. The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a. On or about December 9, 2019, the employer did not perform and authorized employees did not receive training required by this part related to servicing and maintenance covered activities. Employees, such as but not limited to, operators of the Wohler double band machine and associated attachments including the bunch and cut attachment, had not received authorized employee training. Activities covered by this part included operator performed blade change and unjamming of the equipment at the bunch and cut attachment. On this date, the operator suffered a partial finger amputation while performing servicing activities without lockout/tagout protections.

Issued

Apr 14, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,359 · Current $13,359

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4): General - Energy control procedure.  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii):  The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;  a. On or about December 9, 2019, the employer had not developed and documented machine specific procedures for attachments for the double band machine, such as but not limited to the "bunch and cut attachment" (Wohler machine type DSA 92 serial number 2840.) The specific energy control procedure for the Wohler double band machine did not address machine attachments. The employer did not have specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing the "bunch and cut" attachment machine during covered activities, such as but not limited to set-up and connecting the equipment to the double band machine, blade changes and unjamming of material from the equipment. On this date,  an employee suffered a partial finger amputation while performing servicing activities without lockout/tagout protections.

Issued

Apr 14, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,543 · Current $13,359

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a): Machine guarding.  29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  a. On or about December 9, 2019, the point of operation for the "bunch and cut" machine (Wohler machine/type DSA 92 serial number 2840) was not guarded. The "bunch and cut" machine was an attachment for a double band machine used for production purposes. The unguarded point of operation for this machine exposed employees to caught in and amputation hazards during routine use.  b. On or about December 9, 2019, the point of operation for the double band machine (Wohler machine/type SPI 90 serial 2834) was not guarded. The unguarded point of operation for this machine exposed employees to caught in and amputation hazards during daily use.

Issued

Apr 14, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $26,718 · Current $13,359 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:  29 CFR 1910.147(a)(3)(i): The employer did not utilize procedures for affixing appropriate lockout devices or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines or equipment to prevent unexpected energization, start up or release of stored energy in order to prevent injury to employees.  a. On or about December 9, 2019, an employee performed activities covered by this part related to service and maintenance for the double band machine "bunch and cut" attachment.  The employee performed a blade change and unjamming of the equipment at the bunch and cut attachment without isolating the machine and equipment from hazardous energy sources, such as pneumatic and electrical power supply sources. Electrical disconnect boxes were not turned off, electrical power supply cables were not disconnected and pneumatic air supply lines were not disconnected to prevent unexpected energization during service and maintenance. In addition, lockout devices were not applied. On this date, an employee suffered a partial finger amputation while performing servicing activities without lockout/tagout protections.  United Rotary Brush Corporation was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard  29 CFR 1910.147(a)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1232118, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on August 15, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 15607 West 100th Terrace, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.