OSHA Inspection: OHIO VALLEY ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Issued

May 21, 2025

Abate by

Jun 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $13,005 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(3)(i): When a tagout device is used on an energy isolating device which is capable of being locked out, the tagout device shall be attached at the same location that the lockout device would have been attached, and the employer shall demonstrate that the tagout program will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by using a lockout program.  a.  On or about February 13, 2025, the employer failed to demonstrate that the tagout program outlined in the Plant Clearance Permit Procedure provided a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by using a lockout device.  This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards from the rotating parts and pinch points during servicing activities to include but not limited to the of the Emergency Gypsum Conveyor 1 (EGC1) line.   Additional safety measures were not used in conjunction with tagging an energy isolation device to prevent the unexpected re-energization such as but not limited to, the removal of additional isolating circuit element-fuse, to provide a second layer of protection in the event the tagout device for the primary isolation was defeated.

Issued

May 21, 2025

Abate by

Jun 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.  Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locked-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.  a.  On or about February 13, 2025, the employer failed to ensure the utilization of the energy control procedures within their developed Plant Clearance Permit Procedures.  Not utilizing their complete procedures resulted in employees being exposed to rotating parts and pinch points at the Emergency Gypsum Conveyor 1 (EGC1) line when two employees serviced conveyor line.

Issued

May 21, 2025

Abate by

Jun 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  a.  On or about February 13, 2025, employees were exposed to rotating parts and pinch points when they performed servicing activities such as but not limited to the removal of gypsum Emergency Gypsum Conveyor 1 (EGC1) line.  The employer failed to implement energy control application steps to perform the servicing work involving machine isolation [per the 1910.147(d)(3) requirements], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], verification of isolation [(d)(6)] to protect the employees from the EGC1 conveyor servicing hazards.

Issued

May 21, 2025

Abate by

Jun 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(3)(i): When servicing and/or maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department or other group, they shall utilize a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device.  a.  On or about February 13, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that two employees concurrently engaged in servicing activities on the  Emergency Gypsum Conveyor 1 (EGC-1) line were provided with personal lockout/tagout protection which exposed the employees to caught-in hazards from the rotating parts and pinch points during the servicing activity.

Issued

May 21, 2025

Abate by

Jun 3, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(1): Testing or positioning of machines, equipment or components thereof. In situations in which lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolating device and the machine or equipment energized to test or position the machine, equipment or component thereof, the following sequence of actions shall be followed:   29 CFR  1910.147(f)(1)(ii): Remove employees from the machine or equipment area in accordance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section;   a.  On or about February 13, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that employees were clear and safely positioned away from the rotating parts and pinch points on the unguarded head pulley roller area at the Emergency Gypsum Conveyor 1 (EGC1) line during restarting and realignment activities.  As a result, the condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards.