OSHA Inspection: AARROWCAST, INC.

Issued

Dec 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(3)(i):  The employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following; covers, guardrail systems, travel restraint systems, or persona fall arrest systems:  On or about October 3, 2023, at a facility located at 2900 E. Richmond Street in Shawano, WI; the employer did not ensure that each employee stepping from the auto-pour deck on the walking-working surface of the auto-pour furnace were protected from the 9.5-inch gap (hole) between the deck and furnace platform which was approximately 6 feet 3 inches above the floor below.

Issued

Dec 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(1):  The employer must ensure the top edge height of top rails, or equivalent guardrail system members, are 42 inches (107 cm), plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm), above the walking-working surface.  The top edge height may exceed 45 inches (114 cm), provided the guardrail system meets all other criteria of paragraph (b) of this section:  On or about October 3, 2023, at a facility located at 2900 E. Richmond Street in Shawano, WI; the employer did not ensure the top rail of the guardrail system on the auto-pour deck was 42 inches, plus or minus 3 inches. The top rail along the side of the deck closed to the auto-pour pour box was retractable. Auto Pour Operators retracted the top rail when removing slag from the pour box, which exposed them to fall onto the molds or 5 feet 6 inches to the floor between the molds.

Issued

Dec 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(13):   When guardrail systems are used around holes that serve as points of access (such as ladderways), the guardrail system opening must have as a self-closing gate that slides or swings away from the hole, and is equipped with a top rail and midrail or equivalent intermediate member that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section; or is offset to prevent an employee from walking or falling into the hole:  On or about October 3, 2023, at a facility located at 2900 E. Richmond Street in Shawano, WI; the employer did not ensure that each employee was protected from falling into the point of access hole between the auto-pour deck and auto-pour furnace platform when the access point of the auto-pour furnace platform moved away from the auto-pour deck. A missing vertical post produced an approximate 9-inch gap between the gate and guardrail on the auto-pour deck, and the missing vertical post did not prevent the swing gate from opening into the point of access hole exposing employees to falls of approximately 5 feet 6 inches to the floor below.

Issued

Dec 14, 2023

Abate by

Jan 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

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 items [A]-[D]:  On or about October 3, 2022, at a facility located at 2900 E. Richmond Street in Shawano, WI; the energy control procedure for the "ABB Autopour unit & autopour unit pit" did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, and rules to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy. The procedure did not contain a specific statement of the intended use of the procedure and did not contain specific requirements for testing the equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of the lockout device.

Issued

Dec 14, 2023

Abate by

Jan 25, 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:  On or about October 3, 2022, at a facility located at 2900 E. Richmond Street in Shawano, WI; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in inspection and slagging/cleaning activities of the auto-pour furnace's spout. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equipment protective measure prior to allowing them to access the energized movable platform on the auto-pour furnace to remove slag and excess metal from the spout of the furnace. The energy and mechanism for moving the auto-pour furnace were not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing/maintenance activity.  As a result, the applicable energy control elements, involving preparation for shutdown [1910.147(d)(1)], machine shutdown [1910.147(d)(2)], 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.