OSHA Inspection: UNITED TITANIUM, INC.

Issued

May 7, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $14,895

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i):Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  On or about  February 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that machine specific procedures for the control of hazardous energies on equipment were developed prior to employees performing service and maintenance. Employees are tasked with the service and maintenance of equipment in the facility including but not limited to hydraulic presses, punch presses, thread rollers, CNC machines, and screw machines. Hazardous energies present on equipment includes but is not limited to hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical. electrical, gravitational, and kinetic.

Issued

May 7, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A):Authorized employee(s) did not 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:  On or about February 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that employees tasked with the isolation of hazardous energies during service and maintenance tasks had received training as authorized personnel. Employees perform tasks which require the manipulation of controls and isolation points to safely perform the work.

Issued

May 7, 2025

Abate by

Jun 11, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $14,895

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 February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the Abex Dennison hydraulic press ( Blue Goose). Employees are exposed to the movement of the automatic picker/ placement arms during operation. Guarding is not present to prevent employees from contacting the moving machine components including the closing action of the "claws".  Additionally, the side barrier guard contains a broken interlock relay switch which allows for the door to remain in the open position exposing employees to the ram area during operation.   b)  On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the Kinefac MC25. The employer did not ensure that operators assigned to hand-feed materials into unguarded points-of-operation were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Employees are exposed to the ingoing nip point of the rollers during operation. Guarding is not present to prevent employees from contacting the moving machine components including the rollers.   c) On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the Kinefac MC60. The employer did not ensure that operators assigned to hand-feed materials into unguarded points-of-operation were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Employees are exposed to the ingoing nip point of the rollers during operation. Guarding is not present to prevent employees from contacting the moving machine components including the rollers.   d) On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the Kinefac MC15. The employer did not ensure that operators assigned to hand-feed materials into unguarded points-of-operation were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury.  Employees are exposed to the ingoing nip point of the rollers during operation. Guarding is not present to prevent employees from contacting the moving machine components including the rollers.   f) On or about February 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that operators were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Operators also had access to unguarded danger zones of moving mechanical parts such as, but not limited to die rams, drive shafts, universals, rockers, and pusher assemblies on  SASPI GV10.  Interlock mechanisms on the barrier guarding did not function or barrier guarding was not in place.   g) On or about February 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that operators were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Operators also had access to unguarded danger zones of moving mechanical parts such as, but not limited to die rams, drive shafts, universals, rockers, and pusher assemblies on  SASPI GV20 (2).  Interlock mechanisms on the barrier guarding did not function or barrier guarding was not in place.   h) On or about February 4, 2025, the employer did not ensure that operators were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Operators also had access to unguarded danger zones of moving mechanical parts such as, but not limited to die rams, drive shafts, universals, rockers, and pusher assemblies on  "big" SASPI .  Interlock mechanisms on the barrier guarding did not function or barrier guarding was not in place.   i)  On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the blue stand alone roll threader. The employer did not ensure that operators assigned to hand-feed materials into unguarded points-of-operation were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Operators also had access to unguarded danger zones of moving mechanical parts such as, but not limited to die rams, drive shafts, universals, rockers, and pusher assemblies.   j) On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective machine guarding was in place on the ea662101 table top threader. The employer did not ensure that operators assigned to hand-feed materials into unguarded points-of-operation were protected from the pinch points and/or in-going nip points of moving and/or rotating parts likely to result in serious injury. Operators also had access to unguarded danger zones of moving mechanical parts such as, but not limited to die rams, drive shafts, universals, rockers, and pusher assemblies.   k) On or about February 4, 205, employees were exposed to crushing/pinch point hazards while working on and around the Brown and Sharp automatic screw machines (10).  The employer did not ensure there was adequate guarding to protect employees from rotating gears, the turret area, and other moving machine components.  An easily removable hood was provided to protect employees from the moving machine components.

Issued

May 7, 2025

Abate by

May 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(d)(1):Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  On or about February 4, 2025, employees were exposed to in going nip points while working on and around the Brown and Sharp automatic screw machines (10).  The employer did not ensure there was effective guarding to protect employees from the belt and pulley drive system on the backside of the machine.  A hood was in place however did not fully protect the employees from the hazard.

Issued

May 7, 2025

Abate by

May 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $5,210 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 press(es):  On or about February 4, 2025 the employer did not ensure that effective guarding was in place on the Niagara punch press. Employees operated the press using foot pedal actuation methods at which time the barrier guarding did not prevent the employee from reaching the point of operation. Openings in the guarding did not meet the specifications of table O-10 of the standards.