OSHA Inspection: EXACTECH, INC

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems identified in 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A)-1910.28(b)(1)(i)(C).   On or about March 14, 2023, at an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in the Machine Shop East; employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 5 to 6 feet into the lower pit of the WMW BP 180 CNC Horizontal Boring Mill.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $4,688 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.   At an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin:  a) On or about March 14, 2023, the employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, cleaning, changing the tooling, and setting up the Viper VMC-2100A (S/N: 008616). Employees were exposed to caught-in hazards created by the rotating tooling during such activities.   b) On or about March 14, 2023, the employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, cleaning, changing the tooling, and setting up the MAG FADAL VMC 6535HTX.   c) On or about March 13, 2023, the employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, cleaning, changing the tooling, and setting up the HYUNDAI WIA HMC KH1000.  d) On or about March 14, 2023, to March 24, 2023, the employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, changing dies, and adjusting the backstops on the STRIPPIT LVD brake press (S/N: 140197).  e) On or about March 30, 2023,  the employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, changing dies, and adjusting the backstops on the LVD 1000 BH-242 brake press (S/N: 11103).  f) The employer did not develop, document, and utilize energy control procedures for production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, changing the blades on the Marvel Spartan Series band saw (Model: SA330WPC-SPARTAN).   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.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): 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 designations and topics identified in 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A)-1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C).  The employer did not provide training to production employees engaged in servicing and maintenance work such as, but not limited to, changing dies, cleaning inside machines, and changing blades. The employer did not train employees on the knowledge and skills as defined in 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A)-1910.147(c)(7)(i)(C) of this standard.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,563 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation shall not be performed by the customer or user without manufacturers prior written approval. Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals shall be changed accordingly.  At an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin:  a) On or about March 14, 2023, the employer did not obtain written approval from the forklift manufacturers prior to the installation of a hole in one of the forks. One fork was modified with a hole drilled into the tip to insert a pin that was used to move implement wagons. Capacity plates supplied on the vehicles did not include lifting capacity limitations of the attachment modification or the capacity to push or pull the wagons using the hole in the fork.  b) On or about March 30, 2023, the employer did not obtain written approval from the forklift manufacturer prior to the addition of "part carts" used to move fabricated parts and raw materials in the storage yard and throughout the facility. The parts carts were secured to the forklifts utilizing a chain wrapped around the mast and secured to the front of the cart with a shackle. Capacity plates supplied on the vehicles did not include lifting capacity limitations of the attachment and the vehicle.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3)(ii)(B): Powered industrial truck operators shall receive initial training in workplace-related topics including the composition of loads to be carried and load stability.  At an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin:   a) On or about March 14, to March 30, 2023, employees were exposed to struck-by and crushed-by hazards created by employees operating forklifts that had not received training regarding the load composition and load stability of the "part carts". The carts were utilized to move raw materials and fabricated parts in the storage yard and throughout the facility.  b) On or about March 14, to March 30, 2023, employees were exposed to struck-by and crushed-by hazards created by employees operating forklifts that had not received training regarding the load composition and load stability of the implement wagons. The wagons were utilized to move parts in the storage yard and throughout the facility.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.   At an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin:   a) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operation while utilizing a Yale forklift #7 (Model: GLP050VXNDAE084; S/N: D875V03507N) which was missing chunks of rubber in the back steering tires and worn to the safety line.  b) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operation while utilizing a Yale forklift (Model: GLP050MXNEAE086; S/N: A390V05764S) which did not have a working horn or back up alarm.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks shall be examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. Where industrial trucks are used on a round-the-clock basis, they shall be examined after each shift. Defects when found shall be immediately reported and corrected.  On or about March 14, 2023, at an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that forklifts were examined before being placed in service to identify any condition that could adversely affect the safety of the vehicles such as, but not limited to, malfunctioning brakes, horns, and backup alarms.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $4,688 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.  At an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin:  a) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation and crushing hazards created by the unguarded hydraulic C-press used to straighten steel parts. Employees were required to place their hands under the unguarded point-of-operation and its associated danger zone to hold blocks in position between the stationary steel parts on the bed and the ram lowering onto the block for the initial contact. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  b) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation and caught-in hazards created by the unguarded rotating cutting head of the Viper VMC-2100A (S/N: 008616) while bodily entering the machine to remove finished parts, insert stock, and adjust cutting fluid heads. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  c) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation and caught-in hazards created by the unguarded rotating cutting head of the MAG FADAL VMC 6535HTX while reaching into the machine to remove finished parts, insert stock, and adjust cutting fluid heads. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  d) On or about March 14, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation and crushing hazards created by the unguarded STRIPPIT LVD brake press (S/N: 140197) while bending sheet metal parts. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  e) On or about March 30, 2023, employees were exposed to amputation and crushing hazards created by the unguarded LVD 1000 BH-242 brake press (S/N: 11103) while bending sheet metal parts. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Nov 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $877 · Current $526 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv): Have a tag containing the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change. The tag shall be maintained at the compressor.  On or about March 30, 2023, at an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in the Blasting Building; there was no tag on the breathing air filter (CPF air filter) connected to the compressor, which provided breathing air to the Abrasive Blasting employee's abrasive blasting helmet respirator, to identify the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change.

Issued

Aug 31, 2023

Abate by

Oct 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $877 · Current $526 Reduced

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.   On or about March 14, 2023, at an establishment located at 107 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; employees were exposed to hazards related to forklift operations while utilizing a Clark CMP 40L LPG forklift that had a data plate which was not maintained in a legible condition and left information such a load capacities unreadable.