OSHA Inspection: HUBBELL POWER SYSTEMS, INC.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Abate by

Oct 20, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,827 · Current $3,379 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(c):  Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 �F (37.8 �C), may be used only where there are no open flames or other sources of ignition within the possible path of vapor travel:  Assembly:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, the following potential ignition sources were in the possible path of vapor travel of PLT4G ink, a Category 3 flammable liquid thinned with PLTB Thinner, a Category 2 flammable liquid and the PLTB thinner when used to clean inking components:  A.	Fan motor and switch provided inside of the Hemco ductless booth. B.	Relocatable power tap used to energize two overhead lights, the inking machine and the Hemco ductless booth.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,471 · Current $3,830 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.125(a):  Dip tank was not made of noncombustible material:  Tool Room, Dip Coating Cart:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, a plastic bin was used as a dip tank to apply N-700A Maint Coating Black, a Category 2 flammable liquid, to parts.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.125(e)(2):  Portable container(s) used to add liquid to the tank was not electrically bonded to the dip tank and was not positively grounded to prevent static electrical sparks or arcs:  Tool Room, Dip Coating Cart:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, the dispensing container and the dip tank were not grounded and bonded during transfers to refill the dip tank.  The material used was N-700A Maint Coating Black, a Category 2 flammable liquid.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.125(e)(4)(i):  All vapor areas were not kept free of combustible debris and were not kept as free as practicable of combustible stock:  Tool Room, Dip Coating Cart:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, combustible debris such as wood, wooden clothespins, paper, a plastic bin and plastic wrap were located on the Dip Coating cart, where N-700A Maint Coating Black, a Category 2 flammable liquid was stored and where dip coating operations were conducted.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,046 · Current $5,632 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye and 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:  Plating Department:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, an employee who was working at the plating line was not wearing adequate eye and face protection.  The employee was wearing safety glasses with side shields and a cloth face covering instead of chemical splash goggles and/or a face shield when working with a corrosive solution that contained sulfuric acid.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Abate by

Oct 20, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a):  The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  Plating Department:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, an employee who was working at the plating line was not wearing adequate hand protection.  The employee was wearing disposable nitrile gloves instead of impervious gloves when working with a corrosive solution that contained sulfuric acid.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,103 · Current $2,872 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(e)(1):  Alloy steel sling(s) did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach:  Tool Room:  On, or about June 9, 2021, a shop-made two legged chain sling was used to separate dies.  The sling had not been provided with an identification tag.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.184(e)(2)(i):  Hooks, rings, oblong links, pear shaped links, welded or mechanical coupling links or other attachments did not have a rated capacity at least equal to that of the alloy steel chain with which they were used or the sling was used in excess of the rated capacity of the weakest component:  Tool Room:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, a shop-made two legged chain sling was used to separate dies.  The connecting links had a working load limit that was less than the working load limit of the chain.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Abate by

Oct 20, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,437 · Current $4,506 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:  Cold Heading:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, the following roll threading machines were provided with a single jog button that was within reach of the tooling and feeding mechanisms that created pinch points:  A.	Machine #615, SEMS Threader. B.	Machine #603, Waterbury Threader.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,103 · Current $2,872 Reduced

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:  Plating Department:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, a relocatable power tap that was mounted to a work table was energized through an extension cord.  The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing and labeling for relocatable power taps does not allow them to be energized through extension cords.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Abate by

Oct 20, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,046 · Current $5,632 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.335(a)(1)(i):  Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not using electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed:  Company:  On, or about, August 7, 2021, personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, voltage rated gloves, fire resistive clothing, face shields, balaclavas, hard hats and hearing protection was not required to be worn by employees who performed live electrical work, including trouble-shooting, or who verified that electrical equipment was properly de-energized.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.335(a)(1)(ii):  Protective equipment was not maintained in a safe, reliable condition and/or was not periodically inspected or tested:  Company:  On, or about, August 11, 2021, a pair of Novax Class 0 voltage rated gloves had not been inspected since 1/2020.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,103 · Current $2,872 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:  A.	Tool Room, Dip Coating Cart:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, a metal container and a plastic bin that both contained N-700A Maint Coating Black, a Category 2 flammable liquid, were not provided with labels.  B.	Plating Department:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, the Pickle Tank locating in the plating line was not provided with a label.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.41(a)(2):  The establishment had 20 or more but fewer than 250 employees at any time during the previous calendar year, and the establishment was classified as an industry listed in appendix A to subpart E of this part, but did not electronically submit information from OSHA 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses to OSHA or OSHA's designee.  The employer did not submit the information once a year, no later than the date listed in paragraph (c) of this section of the year after the calendar year covered by the form:  (a) Hubbell Power Systems, Inc., 157 Colebrook River Road, Winsted, Connecticut:  On or about June 9, 2021, and times prior thereto, the employer failed to electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses for 2020 or equivalent on or before March 2, 2021.  The establishment employed 130 employees and was classified under NAICS 335931 during calendar year 2020.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(6)(i):  Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:  Annealing Room:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, a fifty five gallon drum that contained Angler 120F, a Category 3 flammable liquid, was not grounded to the building to prevent the accumulation of a static charge.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.:  Tool Room:  On, or about, June 9, 2021, the compressed air nozzle provided for cleaning at the Trak horizontal lathe was measured to be 80 p.s.i., dead-ended.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(i)(C):  For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the width of work space was not clear and did not extend from the grade, floor, or platform to the height required by paragraph (g)(1)(vi) of 29 CFR 1910.303.  Other equipment associated with the electrical installation located above or below the electric equipment extended more than 153 mm (6 in.) beyond the front of the electric equipment:  Assembly:  On, or about, June 11, 2021, a GE transformer was located in the working space in front of PNL IMME, a GE load center circuit breaker panel.

Issued

Sep 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  Tool Room, Exterior Wall near Neoprene Booth:  A wall mounted junction box was not provided with a cover.