OSHA Inspection: GENERAL ALUMINUM MFG. COMPANY

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,873 · Current $14,502

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.136(a): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole:  a)  The employer is failing to provide personal protective equipment in the form of metatarsals to protect employees from crushing hazards in the workplace.  This was most recently documented on May 6, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  Employees are not required to wear metatarsal boots while performing tasks in the Turntable #2 Catcher Table area which require lifting product weighing approximately 75-85 pounds as often as 250 times per shift.   b) The employer is failing to provide personal protective equipment in the form of metatarsals to protect employees from crushing hazards in the workplace.  This was most recently documented on May 6, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  Employees are not required to wear metatarsal boots while performing tasks in the Turntable #4 Casting Conveyor area which require lifting product weighing approximately 45 pounds as often as 250 times per shift.   c) The employer is failing to provide personal protective equipment in the form of metatarsals to protect employees from crushing hazards in the workplace.  This was most recently documented on May 6, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  Employees are not required to wear metatarsal boots while performing tasks in the Turntable #5 Catcher Table area which require lifting product weighing approximately 50 pounds as often as 250 times per shift.   d) The employer is failing to provide personal protective equipment in the form of metatarsals to protect employees from crushing hazards in the workplace.  This was most recently documented on May 6, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  Employees are not required to wear metatarsal boots while performing tasks in the T1XX area which require lifting product weighing approximately 50 pounds as often as 400 times per shift.

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $14,502

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not 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:  a. The employer is exposing employees to crushing hazards in that employees whose duties require them to clean out the inside of the Herschal Knockout Machines designated as #2615 and #2616 are not trained as authorized.  During cleaning, employees place parts of their body inside the machine to clean the area behind the front of the machine and are only trained as affected employees. This was most recently documented on March 30, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  This lack of training exposes the employees to the unexpected energization of moving parts inside the machines.

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $145,027

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. Guarding provided by the employer failed to protect employees from crushing hazards while working on the Knockout Machines designated as #2615 and #2616 located in the TlXX area in that the machines were not properly guarded to prevent employees from being crushed in the machines by inadvertent activation. This was most recently documented on March 30, 2021, at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio. Employees were exposed to crushing hazards.

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(2): Machine guard(s) on machine(s) were so installed that they offered accident hazards in themselves:  a. The employer is failing to ensure employees are protected against crushing hazards in that employees place parts of their body inside the Herschal Knockout Machines designated #2615 and #2616 located in the TlXX area while loading and unloading parts. This was most recently documented on March 30, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $136,532 · Current $145,027

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i):Procedures were not utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in activities covered by this section:  a, The employer is failing to protect employees from crushing hazards in that employees cleaning out the Herschal Knockout Machines designated #2615 and #2616 located in the T1XX area do not utilize lockout/tagout procedures.  Employees place parts of their body inside the machine while cleaning the area behind the front of the machine with the use of an air wand and while conducting other servicing and maintenance activities.  The employees are thereby exposed to the unexpected energization of moving parts inside the machines.  This was occurring on or before March 30, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  General Aluminum Mfg. Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1134563, citation number  01, item number 001 and was affirmed as a final order on December 14, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 1370 Chamberlain Blvd, Conneaut, OH 44030 .

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):   a. The employer is failing to protect employees from crushing hazards while cleaning and conducting other servicing or maintenance activities on the Hershel Knockout Machines designated #2615 and #2616 located in the T1XX area.  The employer is failing to ensure the energy control application steps are followed as the machine is not shut down or turned off to perform the cleaning and servicing or maintenance work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements], including cleaning the machine with an air wand and entering into the machine to remove debris.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], are not implemented to protect employees from unexpected energization.  This was occurring on or before March 30, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  General Aluminum Mfg. Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1050654 , citation number 01  item number 002 and was affirmed as a final order  on March 3, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 5159 South Prospect Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266.  General Aluminum Mfg. Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard  29 CFR 1010.147(d)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1060722, citation number 01, item number 001 and was affirmed as a final order on February 27, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 13663 Short Road, Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895.

Issued

Sep 27, 2021

Abate by

May 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $75,092 · Current $145,027

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 the operating cycle(s):   a. The employer is failing to protect employees from amputation hazards in that the unused portion of the band saw blade in the T1XX area is not guarded.  Employees trim the flanges off different size parts with no adjustable blade guard.  This was most recently documented on May 6, 2021 at the General Aluminum Mfg. Company facility located in Rootstown Township, Ohio.  General Aluminum Mfg., Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1060722, citation number 01, item number 001C and was affirmed as a final order on February 25, 2017, with respect to a workplace located at 13663 Short Road, Wapakoneta, OH 45895.