OSHA Inspection: KUSEL EQUIPMENT CO.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jan 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.136(a)  General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, the employer had not conducted a PPE hazard assessment regarding foot protection which exposed employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $8,203 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i):  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.  (a) On or about February 22, 2023, procedures were not developed for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees performed die changes of the AccurPress model 725012 company number 745.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

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.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023 and times prior the employer had not performed annual periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for the mechanical shear, hydraulic presses, roll forming machines, and other metal fabricating equipment to ensure that procedures and requirements of the standard were being followed and that employees who implement energy control procedures understood their application.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, the employer did not ensure employees implemented energy control procedures prior to entering the point of operation of Accupress model 725012 to perform die removal. The machine was not isolated from all energy sources prior to engaging in these servicing and maintenance activities.   As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lock-out/tag-out device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from the unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy during machine servicing and maintenance activities.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $8,203 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(i):  Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware shall be provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, the employer did not ensure employees performing die changes on the Accurpress model 725012 used devices for blocking of the die and ram which exposed employees to crushing hazards.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(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 March 2, 2023, and times prior, at the workplace, the employer failed to provide authorized employee training to hydraulic press brake operators prior to employees engaging in servicing and maintenance activities, such as die setting and adjustments.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, at the workplace, the employer failed to provide affected employee training to hydraulic press brake operators prior to authorized employees engaging in lockout tagout for servicing and maintenance activities, such as press brake die changes.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jan 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $8,203 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 March 2, 2023, and times prior, the horizontal Lathe ID tag 186 did not have adequate guarding to prevent employee access to rotating and moving parts during normal operations. Exposing employees to amputation and caught in hazards.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jan 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $0 Reduced

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.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating an Ellis Variable Speed Drill Press Model #9400 that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (b)On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Ritter Technology LLC Drill Press Model #400465-HPU ID tag 1040, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (c) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a United States Machine Tool Co. Drill Press Model #V2 ID tag 198, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (d) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating an Allen Brothers hydraulic press, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (e) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Metal Muncher Model MM61C, ironworker, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (f) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Delta Drill Press, tag 102, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (g) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Lemas metal former Model TR80/3, tag 1088, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (h) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Richard Badger-Packard Co., metal former number 15808, tag 34, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (I) On or about March 2, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a Peck Stow & Wilcox Co, metal former Model 418-E, tag 35, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  (j) On or about February 28, 2023, and times prior, employee(s) were operating a AccurShear Model 625010, tag 1044, shear, that was not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,894 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(a)(4):  Work rests. On offhand grinding machines, work rests shall be used to support the work. They shall be of rigid construction and designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear. Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage. The work rest shall be securely clamped after each adjustment. The adjustment shall not be made with the wheel in motion.  (a) On or about March 1, 2023, and times prior, employees were exposed to struck by hazards due to the Baldor Grinder Buffer item 350 work rest not being adjusted to 1/8th of an inch.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(b)(9):  Exposure adjustment. Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch. (See Figures O-18, O-19, O-20, O-21, O-22, and O-23.)  (a) On or about March 1, 2023, and times prior, employees were exposed to struck by hazards due to the Baldor Grinder Buffer item 350 not having an adjustable guard that could be adjusted to not exceed one-fourth inch.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(6): The user shall see that all nameplates and markings are in place and are maintained in a legible condition.  (a) On or about March 2, 2023, and at times prior, employees using forklifts to sheet metal were exposed to struck-by hazards, in that the Yale Model # IG 080LGNGB078 Item 270 forklift did not have markings indicating load capacities and other safety warnings.