OSHA Inspection: CONTINENTAL TIRE THE AMERICAS, LLC

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Aug 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $14,502

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not 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, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   (Instance 1) On or about November 13, 2022, the Line 4 Mixer energy control procedure developed for the Line 4 Ohio Knife failed to provide a specific statement of the intended use of the procedure to clear rubber from the Ohio Knife shear in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A). The procedure also failed to clearly identify all of the specific steps to be followed by employees to: shut down the Ohio Knife; isolate all of the Ohio Knife hazardous pneumatic and gravity energy sources; and the use of blocks of rubber to restrain and secure the Ohio Knife shear in the open position to safely de-energize and control the hazardous energy in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B). The procedures also lacked clear and specific requirements for testing the line 4 Ohio Knife to determine and verify the effectiveness of the lockout devices and energy control measures in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D).  (Instance 2) On or about February 24, 2022, the Line 6 energy control procedure developed for the gripper machine inside of the Line 6 Festoon, failed to provide a specific statement of the intended use of the procedure to make adjustments to the gripper machine in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A). The procedure also failed to clearly identify all of the specific steps to be followed by employees to shut down the gripper machine; isolate all of the gripper machine hazardous pneumatic and gravity energy sources; and block the gripper arm to restrain and secure the gripper machine in the raised position to safely de-energize and control the hazardous energy in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B). The procedures also lacked clear and specific requirements for testing the line 6 gripper machine to determine and verify the effectiveness of the lockout devices and energy control measures in accordance with 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D)

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

May 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $14,502

General-duty citation text

1910.147(c)(6)(i)(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.   On and before November 13, 2021, the employer's periodic inspection did not include a review between the inspector and an authorized employee for the energy control procedure being inspected.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $14,502

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 operating cycle(s):   On or about November 13, 2022, the Ohio Knife (Shear), located on Mixer Line 4, did not have the point of operation guarded.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Aug 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $51,800 · Current $14,502 Reduced

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:     On or about November 13, 2022, employees  conducting cleaning and/or unjamming operations did not receive training in the methods and means necessary for energy isolation.  Continental Tire The Americas, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1467379, citation number 01, item number 002 and was affirmed as a final order on 6-08-2020, with respect to a workplace located at 160 Aldora Street in Barnesville, Georgia.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Aug 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $103,600 · Current $14,502 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):  (Instances 1) On or about November 13, 2022, an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with the point of operation during servicing, clearing a jam and cleaning rubber from the Line 4 Ohio Knife (shear). The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the service work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. 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)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.  (Instance 2) On or about November 13, 2022, a management employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with the point of operation during servicing, the recovery of amputated fingers and cleaning of the Line 4 Ohio Knife (shear). The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the service work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. 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)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards  (Instance 3) On or about February 24, 2022, an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with the nip points and being struck by the equipment while making alignment adjustments to the gripper machine located inside the Line 6 Festoon. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the service work [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. 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)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards  Continental Tire The Americas, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1223352, citation number 02, item number 001 and was affirmed as a final order on 9-20-2017, with respect to a workplace located at 11525 N Illinois Hwy 142 in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Feb 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $11,245

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.144(a)(1)(iii): Emergency stop bars, stop buttons or switches which letters or other markings appear, used for emergency stopping of machinery were not red.   On or about November 13, 2022, the emergency stop control button, installed on the Line 4 Mixer Ohio Knife (shear) operating control panel, was not red but was a silver and green button that was identical to the start/stop button.

Issued

May 12, 2022

Abate by

Feb 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $11,246

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The periodic inspection certification of energy control procedures did not contain the required documentation on identification of the machine or equipment, inspection date, employees included, and the person performing the inspection:    On and before November 13, 2021, the periodic inspection certification did not identify the machine or equipment, nor the employees who were included as a part of the review between the inspector and the authorized employee that was utilizing the energy control.