OSHA Inspection: ALCOM, LLC

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9116.00 · Current $5470.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:     a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer failed to ensure that industrial storage racking in the material handling and storage areas were free from damage, in that racking had bent, broken, and/or damaged stanchions and bracing while remaining in service.  This condition exposed employees to struck-by and crushing hazards.  Among other methods, the following is a feasible and acceptable means of abatement:   Adhere to ANSI Standard MH16.2-1984 Manual of Safety Practices: A Code Of Safety Practices for the Use of Industrial and Commercial Steel Storage Racks and cantilever racks repair and/or replace racks with damaged components.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6837.00 · Current $4103.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure consumables, debris, aluminum shavings, food packaging and garbage were removed from the floor, worktables and storage areas in and around the production area.  Employees were working among cluttered materials and excess debris which provided for tripping hazards, increases the buildings fire loading, and invites pests in and around employee workstations.  These conditions cause health and safety hazards for employees including, but not limited to, contusions, concussion, foreign object ingestion as well as hazards associated with fire.  (b) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from injury in that a full face shield that is used regularly, while operating an aluminum cutting table saw was being stored on the floor in a pile of aluminum shavings while not in use.  This condition exposed employees to eye or face injury from jagged edged aluminum particles on the user side of the full face shield.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6837.00 · Current $4103.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not kept free and unobstructed:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure exit routes were kept clear and unobstructed in that aluminum tubing material was protruding into an emergency exit pathway while being stored on a rack system.  This condition obstructed a clear exit in the event of an emergency requiring quick egress out of the building.  (b) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure exit routes were kept clear and unobstructed in that a shovel, floor fan, and garbage can were placed in front of an exit pathway on the southeast side of the production floor, impeding timely exit in the event of an emergency.  This condition obstructed a clear exit in the event of an emergency requiring quick egress out of the building.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14502.00 · Current $8702.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The  point of operation of machines whose operation exposed an employee to injury was not guarded:   (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation of a rotating saw blade involving the Rigid Table Saw, model R4512, Ser#EM18504D0121187. The machine was being used to cut aluminum stock, was originally equipped with polycarbonate guard that had been removed, exposing one and one half inches of rotating blade.  This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the rotating blade.   (b) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the Rigid Table Saw R4512 Ser#EM17031D0195039. The machine was originally equipped with polycarbonate guard that had been removed exposing three and one quarter inches of saw blade.  This saw was primarily being used to cut aluminum.   This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the rotating blade.   (c) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the JET JPS-10TS Ser#140/3551 table saw.  The machine was originally equipped with polycarbonate guard that had been removed, exposing employees to two inches of rotating blade.  This saw was primarily used to cut aluminum and foam board.   This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the rotating blade.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the band saw located in the trailer fabrication area. The machine was equipped with an adjustable guard that had been not been adjusted to protect the unused portion of the saw blade accidental contact.  An employee was cutting two inch aluminum stock with four inches of unguarded, unused blade.   This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the band saw blade.   (b) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the band saw located in the trailer finishing area.  The machine was equipped with an adjustable guard that had been not been adjusted to protect the unused portion of the saw blade accidental contact.  An employee was observed cutting 1/4 inch aluminum stock with six inches of unguarded, unused blade.   This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the band saw blade.    (c) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the band saw located in the trailer finishing area. The machine was equipped with an adjustable guard was not adjusted to protect the four inches of unused blade while the employee was cutting 1/4 aluminum stock.  This condition exposed employees to lacerations or amputations associated with contacting the band saw blade.  (d) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from the point of operation involving the Bridgeport Machines vertical mill Ser#J-56861 in the trailer fabrication area. The machine was previously equipped with polycarbonate guard that had been zip-tied to the machine, and had since been removed which allowed the employee to operate the Bridgeport Machines vertical mill Ser#J-56861 with an exposed knurled rotating surface while the machine is in operation. This condition exposed employees to lacerations and caught-by hazards associated with making contact with a rotating part.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11396.00 · Current $6838.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 pounds per square inch (p.s.i).:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that compressed air nozzles used for cleaning were regulated so as not to exceed 30 p.s.i.  Employees regularly use compressed air to clean aluminum shavings off of working surfaces as well as using air in lieu of sweeping the floor.   This condition exposed employees to embolisms, eye and skin injuries from flying debris and air pressure injury.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11396.00 · Current $6838.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.252(b)(2)(iii):  Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the arc rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields.:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure workers and other persons walking adjacent to multiple welding areas were protected from the infrared light by welding screens, in that multiple arcs were observed during a walk through inspection.  This condition exposes employees and bystanders to injurious light radiation that could lead to loss of eyesight.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $13674.00 · Current $8205.00 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.:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer allowed material and equipment to block  two electrical panels within the welding area used to power welders and various hand tools.  This condition exposed employees potential shock and electrocution hazards related to inability to disable power during an emergency.  (b ) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure unrestricted access to two electrical panels within the grinding/touch-up welding area, in that spare welders and a large portable fan were placed in front of the electrical panels.  This condition exposed employees potential shock and electrocution hazards related to inability to disable power during an emergency.  (c ) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure unimpeded access to an electrical panel within the maintenance room area in that a fan and other equipment was hanging in front of the breaker panel, obstructing access, as well as visual identification of the breaker panel.  This condition exposed employees potential shock and electrocution hazards related to inability to disable power during an emergency.   (d ) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure unimpeded access to an electrical panel outside of the maintenance room area in that materials were placed in front of the breaker panel, blocking access.  This condition exposed employees potential shock and electrocution hazards related to inability to disable power during an emergency.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(a)(2)(x): Flexible cords and cables shall be protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch points.:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure that extension cords were kept safe from accidental damage in that cords were taped to the floor in areas where equipment was rolled and employees walked.  Multiple areas showed crushed cord covers.  This condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution hazards.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2)(i): Each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:   (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure a four gang receptacle, located on the workbench in the assembly area was properly enclosed in that the faceplate was partially open exposing bare wires to employees working close by.  This condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution hazards.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Flexible cords and/ or cables were used for purposes prohibited by paragraphs (A) through (F) of 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv).:   (a)  ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer used flexible cords and/or cables as a substitute for the fixed wiring in that temporary power taps and extensions cords were being used to power stationary saws, grinders, welders and milling equipment throughout the production floor for periods greater than 90 days.  This condition exposed multiple employees to electrical shock hazards as well as fire hazards.  (b) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure temporary flexible electrical cords were not run through openings in walls of the production facility.  Multiple extension cords were identified as traveling through walls, and through ceiling areas both in the management office area as well as maintenance shop room.  This condition exposed employees to fire and shock hazards.  (c) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure flexible extension cords were properly utilized in that multiple cords were attached to building surfaces using tape and zip ties creating a permanent wiring configuration.  This condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution hazards as well as potential fire hazards.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(2)(iii):  Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure strain relief was provided for extension cords used for welding operations in that cords were observed as being strained 90 degrees, bending at the attachment point to the receptacle. This condition exposed employees to shock and fire hazards.

Issued

2022-05-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-06-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  (a) ALCOM, LLC at 501 East 52nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to December 1, 2021, the employer did not ensure the lockout/tagout program was evaluated at least annually to ensure procedures are accurate, all equipment is identified, employees are properly trained and the program is properly utilized.  This condition exposed employees to injuries including amputation, crushed-by and other hazards when improperly administered and executed.  Abatement Note:  As part of an energy-control program, employers must:     (1)        Establish energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected re-energization.  When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially re-accumulated energy.     (2)        Train employees on the energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and     (3)        Inspect these procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.