OSHA Inspection: GATES AND SONS, INC.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,714 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 from entrapment or struck-by  hazards:  a) Warehouse Yard Area: On or about 05/17/2022, seatbelts were not utilized by employees when operating equipment such as, but not limited to, a Doosan electric sit-down powered industrial truck (Model # B25S-5, S/N FBA08-1910-05559). Operators and other employees working in the Yard and Wearhouse areas were exposed to stuck-by and/or crushing hazards from tip-overs and/or ejection.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $3,770 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:   a) Facility wide: On or about 05/17/2022, the employer did not establish and implement a written voluntary respiratory protection program to ensure the use of voluntary respirators did not present a hazard to the user. This condition exposed employees to respiratory physiological stress hazards.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a)  On or about 05/17/2022, the employer failed to ensure that medical evaluation to determine the ability to safely wear a respirator, were provided to employees who were allowed to wear N-95 (Particulate Respirator 8212) and tight-fitting half-face piece type respirator with 3M 60923 cartridge.  This condition exposed employees to physiological and respiratory hazards.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $5,656 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not adequately developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:   a)  Facility wide - On or about 05/17/2022, the employer failed to ensure that Lock Out/ Tag Out (LOTO) procedures were utilized by employees tasked with completing service and maintenance activities at the facility.  Employees tasked with servicing equipment such as, but not limited to, Welded Wire Machines 007, 603, 610, 613, 634; Twisted Wire Machines T243, T244, T245; Press Brakes #36 and #61., were potentially exposed to electrical and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)  Facility wide - On or about 05/17/2022, the employer failed to ensure that an annual review of the Lock Out/ Tag Out (LOTO) procedures were conducted. This exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards while performing servicing and maintenance activities on equipment with pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, and/or mechanical energy sources.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:  a) Facility-wide: On or about 05/17/2022, the employer exposed employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards in that the employer did not adequately provide either authorized or affected employee training before employees performed servicing or maintenance on the equipment in the facility including but not limited to Welded Wire Machines 007, 603, 613, 634; Twisted Wire Machines T243, T244, T245; Press Brakes #36 and #61. Also, Punch Tool #38.  There was no training for temporary employees.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,714 Reduced

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):  a)  On or about 05/17/2022, guarding to prevent the operator(s) from having any part of the body within point of operation during the operating cycle was not provided for the following equipment, and thus exposed the operator(s) to pinch point,  caught-by, and amputation hazards:   a. The 190-ton (Betenbender) Press Brake, #61: Model no. - 12-190T, located in the Steel Division Building;  b. The 175-ton (Ursviken) Press Brake, #36: Model no. - Type KPD S-175, located in the Steel Division Building;  c. The 100-ton (Scotchman Industries) Punch Tool, #38: Model no. - DO/100/24M, S/N: 1089M6993; located in the Steel Division Building;  d. Dayton 15-inch floor drill press: Model- Unknown. e.  Horizontal saw, H-12

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.243(c)(3): Abrasive wheels used on vertical portable grinder(s) (right angle head grinders) were not provided with safety guard(s) having a maximum exposure angle of 180 degrees and located between the operator and wheel:   a)  On or about 05/17/2022, the employer failed to ensure that portable hand grinders used throughout the facility had guarding potentially exposed the operator(s) to struck-by hazards.  Equipment includes, but is not limited to, the Makita Handheld Grinder (Model 9005B, S/N 158680A, 5 inches).

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,714 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.304(f)(1)(iv): Overcurrent devices for circuits rated 600 volts, nominal, or less, were not readily accessible to each employee or authorized building management personnel:   a) T243, T244, and T245 (Twisted Wire Hardware Assembly) Area- On or about 05/17/2022, employees were exposed to potential shock and/or fire hazards, in that bins and other miscellaneous equipment were blocking two (2) electrical panels (208 volts) on the side wall in the T243, T244, and T245 (Twisted Wire) area. This blocked access to the electrical panel used to power fans (ceiling and exhaust).  b) Near Sprinkler System Emergency On/Off - On or about 05/017/2022, employees were exposed to potential shock and/or fire hazards in that a wooden pallet with metal parts were placed approximately twenty - three (23) inches or less in front of an electrical On/Off switch (208 volts) with a rail, storage items and miscellaneous parts of other equipment. The electrical equipment power lights and wall sockets.

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · Current $2,828 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(i): 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 information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v):   a) T243, T244, and T245 (Twisted Wire) Area: On or before 05/17/2022, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that, appropriate labels and/or hazard warnings were not placed on secondary containers of hazardous chemicals when using chemicals including but not limited to WD-40 (flammable, carcinogen).  b) Facility wide: On or before 05/17/2022, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that, appropriate labels and/or hazard warnings were not placed on secondary containers of hazardous chemicals when using chemicals including but not limited to; Air Tool Lubricant (carcinogen, skin irritant).

Issued

Nov 8, 2022

Abate by

Dec 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) Facility wide: On or before 05/17/2022, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that, employees were not adequately trained on the specific hazardous chemicals utilized in the workplace. Chemicals used at the site include but are not limited to: WD-40 bulk liquid (flammable, carcinogen) Air Tool Lubricant, (carcinogen, skin irritant) Acetylene (flammable, explosive),  propane (flammable, explosive),    Anchor Dark Gray CC3165 (germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogen, flammable) Anchor J22M Tech Liq (flammable, corrosive, CNS depressant) Simple Green Degreaser (eye corrosive)