OSHA Inspection: FORD SHARONVILLE TRANSMISSION PLANT

Issued

2025-09-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-07-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $8000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.147(d)(3)  Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s). 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:  (1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. (2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. (3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s). (4) Lockout or tagout device application. (4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (5) Stored energy. (5)(i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe. (5)(ii) If there is a possibility of reaccumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, verification of isolation shall be continued until the servicing or maintenance is completed, or until the possibility of such accumulation no longer exists. (6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a) On the week of April 7, 2025 , the employer failed to ensure that all sources of hazardous energy were isolated before employees entered Robotic Cell 5607 to perform servicing tasks. Employees, such as, but not limited to, cleaning, inspecting robot tooling, adjusting sensors, replacing gripper jaws, and changing robot batteries, entered the cell relying on the interlock system for protection. The interlock system did not isolate and monitor pneumatic energy to the Turnover, as the solenoid valve was not monitored for failure and could remain in an energized state. As a result, employees were exposed to hazards related to unexpected start-up  such as struck-by, caught-by hazards from the unexpected motion of equipment energized by residual pneumatic pressure.