OSHA Inspection: WAUPACA FOUNDRY, INC.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Abate by

Nov 28, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):  At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  The employer failed to clearly identify all of the specific steps to be followed by employees unjamming parts from the Off Line #1 Trim Press discharge conveyor to isolate, disable, and verify that the conveyor was locked out prior to unjamming parts. The Off Line #1 Trim Press procedure used to deenergize the conveyor lacked the following:  1. A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure to include information such as, but not limited to, what equipment is affected by the procedure and,  2. Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing the conveyor to control hazardous energy and,  3. Specific requirements for testing the conveyor to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices and other energy control measures.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

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).   At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  On or about April 27, 2023, the employer did not train Inspector Grinder employees to have the knowledge and skills to safely apply energy isolation, when to apply energy isolation techniques, and the removal of such energy controls, on equipment such as, but not limited to, the Off Line #1 Trim Press discharge conveyor. Inspector Grinders were exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards created by the discharge conveyor while performing tasks such as, but not limited to, unjamming parts in the discharge conveyor's belt.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $85,938 · Current $15,625 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):  At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  a) On or about April 27, 2023, in the Mill Room in the Off Line #1 Trim Press area; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in the servicing and maintenance activity of unjamming parts that were stuck in the conveyor's belt and/or between the discharge chute. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to dislodge the parts, allowing access to the shear point created by the conveyor belt and the chute. A jammed part in the conveyor belt stopped the belt and when an employee dislodged the part the conveyor began running, pulling the employee's left fourth finger into the shear point.   b) On or about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room on Line 8, prior to adjusting the work rest on 106 Grinder #27, an employee failed to verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished.  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.  Waupaca Foundry, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1531243, citation number 2, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on September 22, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin.