OSHA Inspection: VOESTALPINE PRECISION STRIP WI., INC

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Dec 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,113 · Current $2,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  (a) On or about August 19, 2024, at furnace line #1, employees working from the top of the tempering furnace while conducting maintenance activities,  were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately seven (7) feet to the ground below.   (b) On or about August 19, 2024, at furnace line #2,  employees working from the top of the tempering furnace while conducting maintenance activities,  were exposed to a fall hazard of approximately seven (7) feet to the ground below.

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Oct 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $5,485 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.29(b)(13)(i): A guardrail opening did not have a self-closing gate that slides or swings away from the hole, and is equipped with a top-rail and mid-rail or equivalent intermediate member that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section.  (a) On or about August 19, 2024, at the mezzanine area above the breakroom, the entrance point at the top of the access ladder leading to this work area platform was not equipped with a self closing gate that swings inward. This  exposes employees to a fall hazard of approximately nine (9) feet onto a concrete floor.  (b) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior, at the coil line maintenance pit, the ground level entrance point at the top of the access ladder leading to the coil line maintenance pit was not equipped with a self closing gate. This  exposed employees to a fall hazard of approximately nine (9) feet into the pit.

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,598 · Current $5,500 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) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior at the 32 Take-Up Reels located centrally as part of furnace line #1: The employer did not provide adequate guarding to prevent employee exposure to rotating fixture reels used to wind product into a coil. The eight (8) rotating fixtures exposed employees to caught in and crushing hazards.   (b) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior at the powered Take-Up Reels located at the end of furnace line #1: The employer did not provide adequate guarding to prevent employee exposure to rotating fixture reels used to wind product into a coils,  which exposed the operator to caught-in, pinch-point and crushing hazards.

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(1): Gear(s) were not guarded by a complete enclosure or by one of the methods specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(1)(ii) and (f)(1)(iii):  (a) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior directly next to the  powered Take-Up Reels located at the end of furnace line #1: The employer did not provide adequate guarding to prevent employee exposure to rotating gears used to power the fixtures that wind product into coils, exposing the the employees to caught-in and crushing hazards.

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Nov 19, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,598 · Current $5,500 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.  (a) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior, at the Metal shear located on furnace line 1 at the spot welder: Employees work at and around the point of operation of the Shear machine while cutting and squaring coil steel without adequate point of operation guarding in place. This exposed employees to a caught-in and amputation hazard.   (b) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior, at the polishing station on furnace line #1: Employees working at/or around the exposed point of operation of the energized strip polishing brushes as a part of adjustment of the brush tension against the workpiece to improve finish quality without adequate guarding in place were exposed to caught-in, and degloving hazards .

Issued

Oct 16, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  (a) On or about May 16, 2024, and dates prior, at the polishing station on furnace line #1: Employees working at/or around the energized exposed 1 inch diameter  brush drive shaft end(s) during machine adjustment were exposed to a caught-on hazard, in-that the exposed rotating shaft end(s) was not guarded by a non-rotating cap or equivalent sleeve.