OSHA Inspection: PSS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $15,000

General-duty citation text

OSHAct of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to getting struck-by falling machinery components:  (a) Fabrication Area - On the Cincinnati Shaper Co. 5 series mechanical press brake, serial number 34209, the employer did not have the lower die, used for bending pieces for hayracks, clamped to the press brake to keep the lower die from falling off the press, exposing employees to a struck by hazard, on or about November 29, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,531 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSHAct of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to caught-in and struck-by hazards:  (a) Fabrication Area - Employees used a foot pedal to actuate the Cincinnati Shaper Co. 5 series mechanical press brake, serial number 34209, used to form various parts, including, but not limited to, pieces for hayracks.  Employees hand-fed and removed each part, and the control system for the press brake did not incorporate an anti-repeat feature, exposing employees to getting caught-in or struck-by the closing die, on or about November 29, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(b)(7)(v)(c): The two-hand control system of mechanical power presses using part revolution clutches did not incorporate an anti-repeat feature:   (a) Fabrication Area - The 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press, which had a two-hand control, did not incorporate an anti-repeat feature, exposing employees to getting caught-in or struck-by the closing die, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(d)(9)(i): The employer did not establish a die setting procedure for mechanical power presses that would ensure compliance with 29 CFR 1910.217(c):  (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - Employees did die changes on various mechanical power presses, including, but not limited to, the Bliss mechanical power press referred to as the coining press, the 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press, the 90-ton Bliss 21 B mechanical power press, and the 75-ton Version, model G2-75-46-28, serial number 13139, mechanical power press, and the employer did not develop and implement a die setting procedure for these machines, exposing employees to hazards, such as caught-in and struck-by, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:  (a) Fabrication Area - The Shuster Mettler wire straightening and cutting machine (SER. 3AV-200-69) had no guarding on the feed rolls before and the feed rolls after the rotary arbor, exposing employees to caught-in and entanglement hazards, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Guard for abrasive wheel machine where the operator stands in front of the machine was not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member could be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel:  (a) Maintenance Area - The abrasive wheel on the left side of the Delta pedestal grinder did not have a tongue guard correctly installed, exposing employees to a struck by hazard, on or about February 6, 2024.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(b)(6)(i): Two hand trips on mechanical power presses using full revolution clutches did not have the individual operator's hand controls protected against unintentional operation and did not have the individual operator's hand controls arranged by design and construction to require concurrent operation of the individual operator's hand controls:   (a) Fabrication Area - The Bliss mechanical power press referred to as the coining press had a single-hand trip control rather than a two-hand trip control, and the single-hand trip control did not have protection against unintended operation, exposing employees to getting caught-in or struck-by the closing die, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(b)(7)(iii): Fixing of the selection was not by means capable of supervision by the employer on part revolution mechanical power presses with Off, "Inch," Single Stroke, and Continuous functions:  (a) Fabrication Area - The 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press, which had Jog, Single Stroke, and Continuous functions, did not have a selection means capable of supervision, exposing employees to caught-in and struck-by hazards, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,531 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(c)(1)(i): The employer did not provide and ensure the usage of point of operation guards or properly applied point of operation devices on every operation performed on mechanical power presses:  (a) Fabrication Area - The Bliss full-revolution mechanical power press referred to as the coining press had no point of operation guarding, exposing employees to the hazards of getting struck-by or caught-in the point of operation, on or about November 30, 2023.  (b) Fabrication Area - The 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press, which ran in continuous mode, had a guard that partially protected the front of the point of operation but had no other point of operation guarding, on or about November 30, 2023.  (c) Fabrication Area - The 90-ton Bliss 21 B mechanical power press had a guard that partially protected the front of the point of operation but had no other point of operation guarding, on or about November 30, 2023.  (d) Fabrication Area - The 75-ton Version, model G2-75-46-28, serial number 13139, part-revolution mechanical power press had no point of operation guarding, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.217(e)(1)(i): A program of periodic and regular inspections of mechanical power presses was not established and followed to ensure that all parts, auxiliary equipment and safeguards were in a safe operating condition and adjustment:  (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - The employer had various mechanical power presses, including, but not limited to, the Bliss mechanical power press referred to as the coining press, the 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 mechanical power press, the 90-ton Bliss 21 B mechanical power press, and the 75-ton Version, model G2-75-46-28, serial number 13139, mechanical power press, and the employer did not establish and follow a program of periodic and regular inspections of the mechanical power presses, exposing employees to hazards including caught-in and struck-by, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(b)(1): Flywheels with parts seven feet or less above floors or platforms were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(iv):   (a) Fabrication Area - The flywheel, with a bottom height of 6 feet 8 inches above the floor, on the 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press did not have guarding on the inner and outer sides of the lower portion of the flywheel less than 7 feet above the floor, exposing employees to the hazard of getting caught-in rotating parts, on or about November 30, 2023.  (b) Fabrication Area - The flywheel, with a bottom height of 59 inches above the floor, on the 90-ton Bliss 21 B mechanical power press, did not have complete guarding in that the employer did not have both halves of the existing guard tighten together, leaving a few-inch wide separation, which extended from the bottom periphery to the top periphery of the guard, exposing employees to the hazard of getting caught-in rotating parts, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belts were not enclosed by guards conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):   (a) Fabrication Area - The belt running between the flywheel and the motor pulley on the 125-ton Federal Press No. 10 part-revolution mechanical power press did not have guarding on the lower run, 6 feet 8 inches above the floor, exposing employees to in-going nip points and caught-in hazards, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $7,500

General-duty citation text

OSHAct of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards associated with metal storage racking:  (a) Warehouse, near the Thermoformer - The employer did not have the Steel King Industries metal storage racking (located to the left of the electrical panel labeled "120 Volt Panel-F"), used for storing items, including, but not limited to, thermoforming molds, anchored to the floor nor marked for capacity, on or about November 30, 2023.  (b) Warehouse, near the Thermoformer - The employer did not have the metal storage racking (located on the wall to the right of and perpendicular to the electrical panel labeled "120 Volt Panel-F"), used for storing items, including, but not limited to, wheelbarrow wheels and a wooden pallet with metal handrails used as a personnel lift platform, anchored to the floor nor marked for capacity.  In addition, beams in the metal storage racking did not have locking devices between each beam and column, on or about November 30, 2023.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval, and capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals were not changed accordingly:  (a) Warehouse, near the Thermoformer - The Toyota sit-down rider forklift, model 7FGU32, serial number 61202, had a Clark mast from Lift Technologies, customer number 40D-MT-C077, serial number 40D-MT-963-00001-M.  The employer did not have the forklift manufacturer's prior written approval to use the Clark mast on this Toyota forklift, and the employer did not have this Toyota forklift's data plate changed to reflect the use of the Clark mast, exposing employees to hazards such as overloading and instability, on or about November 28, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(o)(2): Loads were being handled which exceeded the rated capacity of the industrial trucks:    (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - Employees used a Toyota sit-down rider forklift, model 42-5FG25, serial number 11742, to lift and move bundles of ?-inch diameter rods.  These bundles of rods weighed 4,770 pounds, and this forklift had a maximum lifting capacity of 4,000 pounds.  The bundles of ?-inch diameter rods exceeded the lifting capacity of the forklift, creating a tipping hazard, on or about November 30, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial trucks found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition:   (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - The Toyota sit-down rider forklift, model 7FGU32, serial number 61202, had defects, including a bent overhead guard and hydraulic leaks, and this powered industrial truck did not get withdrawn from service for repairs, on or about November 30, 2023.  (b) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - The Toyota sit-down rider forklift, model 42-5FG25, serial number 11742, had defects including a leaking piston, a non-functioning back-up alarm, and small cuts in the tire sidewalls, and this powered industrial truck did not get withdrawn from service for repairs, on or about November 30, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $7,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:   (a) Thermoformer Area - The employer wired a flexible cord from the Allen Bradley control box on the Conair Martin granulator, model CK1418, serial number 1201886, directly to conductors in the branch circuit, with the connection held together by electrical tape, exposing employees to the hazard of injurious contact with electrical current, on or about November 30, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:   (a) Warehouse, near the Thermoformer - The employer did not maintain sufficient access and working space to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance about electrical equipment, including the breaker box labeled as 120 Volt Panel-F, which controlled loads such as Burn-Off Oven, lights, and receptacles, in that stored materials sat directly in front of the breaker box, exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about November 30, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   (a) Warehouse, near Thermoformer - The breaker box labeled 120 Volt Panel-F, which controlled loads such as Burn-Off Oven, lights, and receptacles, had seven unused openings on the top left, two unused openings on the top right, one unused opening at location 36 (near the bottom right), exposing the live busbar, on or about November 30, 2023.  (b) Thermoformer Area - The Acme Transformer general purpose transformer on the side of the Conair Martin granulator, model CK1418, serial number 1201886, had an uncovered opening (missing knockout) on the right side, on or about November 30, 2023.  (c) Thermoformer Area - The junction box above the operator station on the Thermoformer had an uncovered opening (missing knockout), on or about November 30, 2023.  (d) Fabrication Area - The junction box on the left side of the 75-ton Version, model G2-75-46-28, serial number 13139, part-revolution mechanical power press had an uncovered opening (missing knockout), on or about November 30, 2023.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Abate by

Mar 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or the loss of an eye:  (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - On December 4, 2023, an employee suffered a right thumb tip amputation as a result of getting the thumb caught in the Cincinnati Shaper Co. 5 series mechanical press brake, serial number 34209, point of operation.  The employer did not report this amputation to OSHA.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and shall state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours:   (a) PSS Manufacturing Company Inc., 405 School Road, Denver, Pennsylvania - On or about November 30, 2023, the employer failed to provide a copy of OSHA Form 300 for calendar year 2023 within four business hours.  The employer did not provide the copy until March 26, 2024.  No abatement certification or documentation required.