OSHA Inspection: MERRILL IRON & STEEL, INC.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

Jun 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $6,216 Reduced

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):  On or about December 9, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin in the Welding Department; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in replacing consumable activities on the Zeman.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to enter through the keypad door to replace welding tips, feed welding wire, and clear jams.  The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

Jun 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.  On or about December 9, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin in the Welding Department; employees authorized to perform maintenance, servicing, and cleaning were not reviewed periodically to ensure the employees involved knew their responsibilities under the energy control procedure.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

Jun 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $6,216 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 December 14, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin; employee's enter the keypad door area of the Zeman robotic cell to inspect wire and welding tips, while in the program position, exposing employees to struck by hazards.  (b)  On or about November 10, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street, in Schofield, Wisconsin, in the Layout Department, the Hill hydraulic press was not guarded to prevent employees from reaching through or under the stripper exposing them to struck by hazards.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

May 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii):  The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  On or about November 10, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street, in Schofield, Wisconsin, in the Layout Department, the Hill hydraulic press was not guarded to prevent employees from reaching through or under the stripper exposing them to caught between hazards created between the punch dies and metal.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

May 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $6,216 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(b)(1): Flywheels. Flywheels located so that any part is seven (7) feet or less above floor or platform shall be guarded in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.219(b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(vi):   On or about December 13, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin, in the Layout Department; a Cincinnati mechanical shear #SS51 had an unguarded flywheel exposing employees to caught in hazards.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

May 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.  On or about December 13, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin, in the Layout Department; a Cincinnati mechanical shear #SS51 had an unguarded pulley system exposing employees to caught in hazards.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Abate by

May 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical and inclined belts shall be enclosed by a guard conforming to standards in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.   On or about December 13, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street in Schofield, Wisconsin, in the Layout Department; a Cincinnati mechanical shear #SS51 had an unguarded vertical belts exposing employees to caught in hazards.

Issued

Apr 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $6,216 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(2):  Basic Requirement. Within twenty-four (24) hours after the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees or an employee's amputation or an employee's loss of an eye, as a result of a work-related incident, you must report the in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye to OSHA.  On or about November 12, 2021, at an establishment located at 900 Alderson Street, in Schofield, Wisconsin; the employer did not report a work-related employee in-patient hospitalization to OSHA within 24 hours.