OSHA Inspection: WAUPACA FOUNDRY, INC.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Abate by

Dec 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

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.   At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  a) On or about April 27, 2023, in the Mill Room Off Line #1 Press area; Inspector Grinder employees were exposed to amputation hazards created by the steel mesh discharge conveyor belt and discharge chute while reaching into the conveyor to get parts. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  b) On our about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room on lines 4B and 5B; employees were exposed to amputation hazards created by the steel mesh conveyor belts and frames of the Sprayer and Dryer conveyors while working near and under the discharge area of the conveyors. The machines were not adequately guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  c) On or about August 17, 2023, in the Mill Room; Inspector Grinder employees utilizing mounted straight Top Cat air-powered grinders were exposed to entanglement and laceration hazards created by the unguarded 4-inch diamond abrasive grinding wheels. The machines were not adequately guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Abate by

Dec 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $7,500 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.  At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  a) On or about May 8, 2023, in the Mill Room on line 8A, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on a 106 stand-grinder was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The air-actuated work rest was approximately 1 to 2 inches from the grinding wheel when an employee got their left hand pinched between the grinding wheel and the part when they activated the movement of the work rest, resulting in a finger amputation injury.  b) On or about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #22 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 7/8-inch from the grinding wheel.  c) On or about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #19 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 1-1/4 inches from the grinding wheel.  d) On or about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room on Line 8A, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #16 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 5/8-inch from the grinding wheel.  e) On or about May 12, 2023, in the Mill Room on Line 8A, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #27 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 7/8-inch from the grinding wheel.  f) On or about August 17, 2023, in the Mill Room, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #23 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 1-3/8 inches from the grinding wheel.  g) On or about August 17, 2023, in the Mill Room, the employer did not ensure that the air-actuated work rest on 106 stand-grinder #6 was adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of 1/8-inch gap to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest. The work rest was approximately 11/16-inch from the grinding wheel.

Issued

Oct 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(i): Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket). Cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) which remain connected once they are put in place and are not exposed to damage need not be visually inspected until they are relocated.   At an establishment located at 805 Ogden Street in Marinette, Wisconsin:  a) A flexible cord on a Reelcraft L4545 123 7 retractable cord reel equipped with a GFCI outlet receptacle was powering Dry Belt Conveyor #2. The flexible cord had an approximate 1-inch-long laceration and abrasion in the outer and inner sheathings, resulting in the bare conductors being exposed. The flexible cord was not visually inspected before use for external defects.