OSHA Inspection: UNYTITE, INC.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $12,768 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(c): (c) Access and egress.  The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces.  On or about December 2, 2026, the employer failed to provide a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces at Assembly Machines 62 and 6B. Employees were required to navigate around the machines during normal operation but sets of rollers at the machine exits conveyed Gray 7.5-28/24-gauge Lancaster containers through the access path. As a result, operators had to step up and over containers approximately 20'' in height. The containers were at times absent, at times stationary, and at times moving when the rollers initiated movement while employees were stepping over them.  This condition exposed employees to slip, trip, and fall hazards, including the risk of loss of balance or misstep while crossing moving or stationary obstructions, which could result in sprains, strains, bruises, fractures, and other serious injuries.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $5,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii) The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to: 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A)-1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(D).  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A): A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure.  On or about December 2, 2025, the employer did not ensure that the lockout/tagout procedure for Assembly Machine 62 clearly and specifically stated its intended use. The procedure included language indicating that Machine Operators (affected employees) could perform servicing and maintenance activities covered by 29 CFR 1910.147 once lockout/tagout had been applied by authorized employees, rather than limiting such activities to authorized employees performing the servicing or maintenance, as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(8). Employees were exposed to serious injury, including caught-in, crushing, amputation, shock, and fatality hazards, from unexpected energization or release of hazardous energy.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The employer shall certify that the periodic inspections have been performed. The certification shall identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.  On or about December 2, 2026, the employer failed to certify annual periodic inspections of lockout tagout procedures for the Assembly Machines. Without periodic inspections, deficiencies in lockout tagout procedures and employee practices go unidentified. Employees involved in or around service and maintenance activities are exposed to hazards from unexpected energization, start-up, or release of stored energy which could result in severe injuries, amputation, or death.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Sep 1, 2026

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $6,200 Reduced

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 sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6).  On or about December 02, 2026, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to perform service and maintenance tasks on the Nut and Bolt Assembly Machines 62 and 6B. Assembly Operators operating Machines 62 and 6B were instructed to place the machine in "manual" mode to clear jams and make adjustments, instead of applying lockout/tagout procedures. Employees were exposed to caught-in, struck-by, and amputation hazards due to the unexpected startup or cycling of the machine while placing their body inside the point of operation to clear jams.   As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards. Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Sep 1, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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.  On or about December 2, 2026, the employer failed to provide guarding to protect employees from rotating machine parts and the point of operation on Assembly Machine 62. The following instances were observed:  (a) A rotating gear used to push parts onto a rail for assembly was not guarded to prevent employee contact, exposing employees to caught-in, struck-by, and amputation hazards.  (b) The rotating carousel and moving slides on Assembly Machine 62 were not guarded to prevent employee access to the point of operation, exposing  employees to caught-in, struck-by, and amputation hazards.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $12,768 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the considerations described in 1910.303(b)(1)(i)-(b)(1)(viii).  The employer did not ensure that electrical equipment was free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. On or about December 2, 2025, the following conditions were observed:  (a) Near the rollers behind Assembly Machine 62, an extension cord was observed with exposed conductors where the insulating jacket had pulled back from the attachment point. The extension cord was being used to supply power to a power strip with multiple plugs connected.  (b) In the Assembly Machines area, multiple extension cords were observed routed around and underneath equipment without protection from physical damage. Some cords were located on the walking-working surface, increasing the likelihood of abrasion, crushing, or other damage.  (c) At Panel P-2 29.31.33, a 480-volt General Electric panel, conduit was observed exiting the panel and supplying a 120-volt quad receptacle. The employer was unable to verify whether the receptacle was supplied from the panel or whether the panel was being used as a pass-through or junction point for another source. The employer was unable to verify the source, circuit identification, and means of isolation for the 120-volt quad receptacle. As a result, employees could not readily determine the proper source or means of isolation for the receptacle, exposing employees to hazards associated with unexpected, energized parts.  Employees were exposed to electrical shock and fire hazards that could result in burns, smoke inhalation, neurological injury, cardiac arrest, or other serious injury or death.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

May 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.   On or about December 2, 2025, during the walkaround, the employer did not ensure that listed or labeled electrical equipment was installed and used in accordance with its listing and labeling instructions. In the Assembly Machines area, multiple extension cords and power strips were observed being used as a permanent source of power for equipment. Extension cords were routed around and underneath equipment and across walking-working surfaces without protection from physical damage, increasing the likelihood of abrasion, crushing, or other damage. These cords were connected to power strips with multiple plugs supplying various pieces of equipment.  Employees were exposed to electrical shock and fire hazards that could result in burns, smoke inhalation, neurological injury, cardiac arrest, or other serious injury or death.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).