OSHA Inspection: POHL MACHINING, INC.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Jun 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $7,813

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Energy control procedure. Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section. Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.  a) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer had not developed, documented, and utilized energy control procedures to control energy sources including the electric, pneumatic, and hydraulics for the CNC Mills and the lathes such as but not limited to; Pratt & Whitney Engine Lathe (Serial No. 1238, Machine No. 201), American Lathe (Machine No. 203), and Monarch Lathe (Machine No. 204).

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Jun 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Training and communication. 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 January 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that each machine operator was trained as authorized employees to isolate energy sources including electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulics prior to performing set up of equipment such as, but not limited to: Pratt & Whitney Engine Lathe (Serial No. 1238, Machine No. 201), American Lathe (Machine No. 203), and Monarch Lathe (Machine No. 204).

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Jun 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 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:  (d)(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.  (d)(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).  (d)(4) Lockout or tagout device application.  (i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.  (ii) Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position.  (d)(5) Stored energy.  (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.  (ii) If there is a possibility of reaccumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, verification of isolation shall be continued until the servicing or maintenance is completed, or until the possibility of such accumulation no longer exists.  (d)(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 or before January 20, 2023, employees performing maintenance and set ups were not required to isolate each energy source for equipment such as, but not limited to: the electric for the Pratt & Whitney Engine Lathe (Serial No. 1238, Machine No. 201), the electric for the American Lathe (Machine No. 203), and the electric for the Monarch Lathe (Machine No. 204) as required by (d)(2) through (d)(6).

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,485 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(3):Training program content. Powered industrial truck operators shall receive initial training in the following topics, except in topics which the employer can demonstrate are not applicable to safe operation of the truck in the employer's workplace.  a) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer had not provided initial training that covers operating instructions, differences between a truck and automobile, truck controls and instrumentation, engine or motor operation, steering and maneuvering, visibility, capacity, stability, maintenance and inspection, refueling, composition of loads to be carried, load manipulation, and pedestrian traffic to employees operating the UniCarrier and Hyster Forklifts.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Jun 7, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,485 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.179(l)(3): Adjustments and Repairs.  (i): Any unsafe conditions disclosed by the inspection requirements of paragraph (j) of this section shall be corrected before operation of the crane is resumed. Adjustments and repairs shall be done only by designated personnel.  a) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that unsafe conditions disclosed by the periodic inspections were being corrected before operation for the Euclid 10-Ton Crane (BC-101) that is located in Bay 2 in that employees continued to operate the crane after the crane hook safety latch was discovered to be broken.  b) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that unsafe conditions disclosed by the periodic inspections were being corrected before operation for the Euclid 10-Ton Crane (BC-102) that is located in Bay 2 in that employees continued to operate the crane after the crane hook safety latch was discovered to be broken.  c) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that unsafe conditions disclosed by the periodic inspections were being corrected before operation for the Robbins and Myers, Inc. 5-Ton Crane (BC-104) that is located in Bay 1 in that employees continued to operate the crane after the crane hook safety latch was discovered to be broken.  d) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not ensure that unsafe conditions disclosed by the periodic inspections were being corrected before operation for the Delta Crane Systems, Inc. 7.5-Ton Crane (BC-106) that is located in Bay 2 in that employees continued to operate the crane after the crane hook safety latch was discovered to be broken.

Issued

Apr 20, 2023

Abate by

Jun 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.179(l)(3): Adjustments and repairs.  (iii) Repairs or replacements shall be provided promptly as needed for safe operation. The following are examples: (a)Crane hooks showing defects described in paragraph (j)(2)(iii) of this section shall be discarded. Repairs by welding or reshaping are not generally recommended. If such repairs are attempted they shall only be done under competent supervision and the hook shall be tested to the load requirements of paragraph (k)(2) of this section before further use.  a) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not repair the safety latch of the hook for the Euclid 10-Ton Crane (BC-101) that is located in Bay 2 that had been identified as a safety hazard on the Crane Operator Daily Checklist on multiple days in January of 2023.  b) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not repair the safety latch of the hook for the Euclid 10-Ton Crane (BC-102) that is located in Bay 2 that had been identified as a safety hazard on the Crane Operator Daily Checklist on multiple days in January of 2023.  c) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not repair the safety latch of the hook for the Robbins and Myers, Inc. 5-Ton Crane (BC-104) that is located in Bay 1 that had been identified as a safety hazard on the Crane Operator Daily Checklist on multiple days in January of 2023.  d) On or about January 20, 2023, the employer did not repair the safety latch of the hook for the Delta Crane Systems, Inc. 7.5-Ton Crane (BC-106) that is located in Bay 2 that had been identified as a safety hazard on the Crane Operator Daily Checklist on multiple days in January of 2023.