OSHA Inspection: THE VOLLRATH COMPANY

Issued

Aug 16, 2024

Abate by

Oct 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · 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, (c)(4)(ii)(B), and (c)(4)(ii)(D):   At an establishment located at 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin; the employer did not document each of the specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment, and specific requirements for testing the machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices and other energy control measures. Employees were exposed to machine hazards while performing servicing and maintenance activities on equipment including, but not limited to, the Verson partial revolution mechanical power press (Asset # 11-052), the Milltronics RH33 vertical bed mill, the Milltronics MB20-A series C CNC milling machine (Asset # 80-104), LeBlond lathe (Asset # 36-48), and the Bliss partial revolution mechanical power press (Asset # 11-006).

Issued

Aug 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $11,524

General-duty citation text

1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A)  Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.   On or about March 21, 2024, at a establishment located at 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin; an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in the servicing and maintenance activity of unjamming the pneumatic pushout cylinder on a Verson partial revolution mechanical power press (Asset # 11-052). The employer did not ensure that the employee implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to unjam the pushout. The machine was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  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 [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

Aug 16, 2024

Abate by

Oct 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $11,524

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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.  At a establishment located at 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin:  a) On or about April 22, 2024, in Department 902 on the 317 perforated bun pan line, employees were exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards created by the steel mesh conveyor belt and tail roller on the transition conveyor (Asset # 336), and the idle roller conveyor while loading the labeler machine and removing pans from the conveyor. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.  c) On or about April 25, 2024, on the 440 press line, employees were exposed to caught-in and amputation hazards created by the steel mesh conveyor belt and tail roller on the offload conveyor, and the downstream white conveyor. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.

Issued

Aug 16, 2024

Abate by

Oct 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $0 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 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin:  a) In the Machine Center/Tool Shop, employees operating the Milltronics RH33 CNC vertical bed mill (Serial # RH32100141AEEAB) were exposed to entanglement and crushing hazards created by the vertical, horizontal, and rotating movements of the machine at the point of contact between the tool and work piece.  b) In the Machine Shop/Tool Room, employees operating the Milltronics MB20-A series C CNC milling machine (Asset # 80-104) were exposed to entanglement hazards created by the rotating tooling of the machine. The machine was not effectively guarded to prevent exposure to these hazards.

Issued

Aug 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used for purposes prohibited by paragraphs (A) through (F) of 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv):   a) On or about April 24, 2024, at an establishment located at 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin; the employer used an extension cord in the Machine Shop/Tool Room as a substitute for the fixed wiring of the structure to provide power to a shop light that was suspended from the ceiling by chains, exposing employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.   b) On or about April 24, 2024, at an establishment located at 502 Highway 67 in Kiel, Wisconsin; the employer used an extension cord in the Machine Shop/Tool Room as a substitute for the fixed wiring of the structure to provide power to a Southwire work light clipped to the chip shield of the Milltronics MB20-A milling machine, exposing employees to electrical shock and fire hazards.