OSHA Inspection: ACE STEEL & RECYCLING INC.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,276 · Current $4,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:   (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703:  On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure a written respiratory protection program was implemented with worksite specific procedures,  in that the employer required the use of respirators during painting and welding operations. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703:  On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were medically evaluated for respiratory protection prior to use.  This condition exposes employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph:  (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703:  On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure employees were fit-tested for the employer provided respirators prior to use during painting and welding operations. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals:    (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703:  On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure respirators were stored properly when not in use. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703:  On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure employees who are required to use respirators during painting and welding operations were adequately trained prior to use. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $2,970 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that all forklift operators, were competent to operate the Toyota, Model 7FGU45, serial number 6116, shop ID: F2757 powered industrial truck safely by a successful completion of a training program prior to operating. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with improper forklift operations.  (b)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that all forklift operators, were competent to operate the Toyota, Model 5FGC25 , serial number 713557960, shop ID: 314 powered industrial truck safely by a successful completion of a training program prior to operating. This condition exposed employees to struck-by hazards associated with improper forklift operations.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $6,900 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)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that the Kondia Drill Press, Model G, was properly guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.  (b)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that the Dvorak Iron Worker, Little Scotchman Industries H111678, Model 314, serial number 5264, was properly guarded, This condition exposed employees to crushing and amputation hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $6,900 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 and adjusted point of operation devices on every operation performed on a mechanical power press:  (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not provide adequate guarding of the Chicago Dreis & Krump 338,  Model 338L, Serial Number, 4557. This condition exposed employees to caught in, crushing, and amputation hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.217(c)(3)(vi): A holdout or a restraint device shall protect the operator as specified in paragraph (c)(3)(i)(c) of this section and shall include attachments for each of the operator's hands. Such attachments shall be securely anchored and adjusted in such a way that the operator is restrained from reaching into the point of operation. A separate set of restraints shall be provided for each operator if more than one operator is required on a press:   (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not provide each operator of the Chicago Dreis & Krump 338 Mechanical Press Brake, Model 338L, Serial Number, 4557, a separate set of restraints per employee as required. This hazard exposed employees to crushing and amputation hazards.

Issued

Apr 8, 2025

Abate by

May 8, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3): The employee training did not include the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(i) through (h)(3)(iv):    (a)Ace Steel & Recycling Inc. dba Cow Country Equipment, Inc. at 3406 Edwards Street, Rapid City, SD 57703: On or about and at times prior to November 25, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were trained on chemical specific hazards present in the workplace. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.