OSHA Inspection: FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Jan 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,436 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3):Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.  a) On or about July 1, 2021, cords, cables, and air lines in the walking area of the 3 inch Weld Machine #3 created tripping hazards.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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: (B) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;  a) On or about June 24, 2021, employees were not utilizing the lockout procedures when performing maintenance, changeover (setup), and cleaning on machines such as but not limited to the 3 inch Build Up Machine (BUM) and the 3 inch Weld Machine 1, 2, and 3 exposing employees to thermal, mechanical, and pneumatic energy.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):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: (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 June 24, 2021, maintenance employees, setup A employees, and setup B employees had not been provided adequate training as authorized employees to lockout machines such as but not limited to the 3 Inch Weld Machine #1, #2, and #3 and the 3 Inch Build Up Machine (BUM), when the employees were performing changeovers and were performing repairs and maintenance on the machines. Employees were exposed to mechanical energy, pneumatic energy, and thermal energy from the electrodes.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iii): Employee retraining. (A) Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard, or when there is a change in the energy control procedures.  a) On or about July 1, 2021, maintenance employees, Setup A employees, and Setup B employees were not receiving retraining when given new assignments and new equipment, for equipment such as but limited to the 3 Inch Weld Machine 1, the 3 Inch BUM Machine, and the 2801 Minster Press when cleaning, performing setups, performing tool changes, and unjamming parts in the BUM Vibromatic. Employees were exposed to mechanical energy, pneumatic energy, gravitational energy, and thermal energy.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Jan 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  a) On or about July 1, 2021 at the 3 Inch Build Up Machine (BUM), adequate guarding was not provided to protect employees who were exposed to ingoing nip point hazards such as but not limited to the turning wheels located on the waist high conveyor along the back wall next to the electrical panel.  b) On or about June 28, 2021 at the 3 Inch Weld Machine Welder #3, adequate guarding was not provided to protect employees who were exposed to caught between hazards from the pneumatic powered base of the welder electrodes and burn hazards from 7 volt 30,000 amp welder electrodes when unjamming and removing parts at the point of operation during production.  c) On or about July 7, 2021 at the PR2601 Redraw Press, adequate guarding was not provided to protect employees who were exposed to an ingoing nip point for a high speed belt located at the front of the machine.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(f)(2):Instruction to operators. The employer shall train and instruct the operator in the safe method of work before starting work on any operation covered by this section. The employer shall insure by adequate supervision that correct operating procedures are being followed.  a) On or about July 20, 2021, the employer did not adequately train operators on the safe operation of the mechanical power presses such as but not limited to the 2803 BLISS and 2801 Minster Presses running in automatic mode on different types of presses functions of operational buttons, how to conduct daily inspections around the presses to ensure that all guards are in place on the presses, and its auxiliary parts.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Jan 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,436 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.  a) On or about July 7, 2021 at the 3 inch BUM, employees used extension cords plugged into outlet boxes at the gasket conveyor with with permanent equipment plugged into it.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $27,306 · Current $17,734 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i):The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed. (A) The periodic inspection shall be performed by an authorized employee other than the ones(s) utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected. (B) The periodic inspection shall be conducted to correct any deviations or inadequacies identified. (C) Where lockout is used for energy control, the periodic inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected.  a) On or about July1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures such as but not limited to the 3.0 Build Up Machine (BUM) and the 3 Inch Weld Machine #1, 2, and 3 had been completed at least annually.   The Fram Group Operations LLC was previously cited for the same/similar specific procedures for this violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1500948, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on February 22, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 851 Jackson Street, Greenville, OH 45331.

Issued

Dec 3, 2021

Abate by

Mar 24, 2022

Penalty

Initial $27,306 · Current $17,734 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: (1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. (2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. (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). (4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (5)(i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe. (6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a) On and after June 24, 2021, maintenance employees, setup A employees, and setup B employees were not locking out as required by 2 through 6 for the 3 inch Build Up Machine (BUM) and the 3 inch Weld Machine 1, 2, and 3 when performing cleanup, setup and changeover, and maintenance and repairs, exposing employees to mechanical, pneumatic, and thermal energy.  The Fram Group Operations LLC was previously cited for a same/similar Build Up Machine (BUM) violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185191, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on December 21, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 851 Jackson Street, Greenville, OH 45331.