OSHA Inspection: MERRIMAC SPOOL & REEL CO., INC.

Issued

Mar 12, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $5,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to caught between/entanglement hazards posed by the rotating steel mandrel shaft in the manual lathe while hand polishing it using abrasive strips (emery cloth) with a gloved hand :  On or about November 19, 2020, in the machine shop area, an employee was using their gloved right hand while polishing a steel mandrel shaft on the Meuser & Co. GMBH manual lathe while holding an abrasive Emory cloth material around the rotating part.  The friction created between the Emory cloth and/or the glove and the rotating part entangled the Emory cloth and the gloved hand of the employee around the mandrel shaft in the direction of rotation.  The employee sustained significant hand injuries including a broken wrist and amputated index finger.

Issued

Mar 12, 2021

Abate by

Mar 31, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $0 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)  Machine Shop:  The Meuser & Co. GMBH lathe, S/N: 37328, used by employees to machine metal parts, was not equipped with chuck, and chip guards exposing employees to entanglement and struck-by hazards posed by rotating part and flying debris parts.  b)  Machine Shop:  The yellow drill press, used by employees to drill holes, was not equipped with a chuck guard exposing employees to rotating parts.

Issued

Mar 12, 2021

Abate by

Mar 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one-fourth inch:   Machine Shop:  The tongue guard on the right side of the Wissota E-7 bench grinder, used by employees to grind metal parts, was not adjusted to within one-fourth inch of the abrasive wheel.

Issued

Mar 12, 2021

Abate by

Mar 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $1,000 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.:   Machine shop:  The compressed air gun, hanging in front of the bench grinder and used by employees for cleaning purposes, was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.

Issued

Mar 12, 2021

Abate by

Mar 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  Machine shop:  Access to the 480V/30A electrical disconnect switch for the Meuser & Co. GMBH manual lathe was blocked by machinery, parts, material, and equipment.