OSHA Inspection: ARCH CUTTING TOOLS - ATHOL, LLC

Issued

Mar 26, 2025

Abate by

Mar 27, 2026

Penalty

Initial $6,620 · Current $4,600 Reduced

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:  273 Main Street, Athol, MA:  On and before February 20, 2025, a machine operator employee did not utilize an energy control procedure prior to adjusting the dust collector hose on the Brown and Sharpe OD Grinder machine.  On February 20, 2025, a machine operator employee received a fingertip amputation injury while performing this task without isolating energy sources.

Issued

Mar 26, 2025

Abate by

Mar 27, 2026

Penalty

Initial $6,620 · Current $4,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B):  The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy:  273 Main Street, Athol, MA:  On and before February 26, 2025, the employer only provided generic energy control procedures for groups of machines with similar energy sources.  These generic energy control procedures did not list any machine-specific steps to shut down, such as ensuring machines cannot be set in motion without permission, bleed residual energy, achieve zero energy state, place lockout devices, or verify isolation.  Additionally, the Brown and Sharpe OD Grinder machine did not list that potential kinetic energy allowed the grinding wheel to continue to turn for fifteen seconds after the machine was turned off.

Issued

Mar 26, 2025

Abate by

Mar 27, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):  The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  273 Main Street, Athol, MA:  On and for more than two years before February 26, 2025, the employer had not performed a comprehensive periodic inspection of energy control procedures for all multi-energy source machines, including the Brown and Sharpe OD Grinder machine, at least annually, to verify that each procedure was adequate and being properly used by employees.  *Abatement Notes:  A periodic inspection shall include the following elements:  - Appointment of an authorized employee to inspect each local procedure for inaccuracies or employee deviations during energy control tasks - A review by inspector with each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under each energy control procedure they are authorized to use - Certification that the periodic inspections have been performed by identifying the machines or equipment on which the energy control procedures were being utilized, the dates of the inspections, the employees included in the inspections, and the persons performing the inspections *Abatement notes are intended only to provide clarity regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. Abatement notes do not create (or diminish) legal obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.