OSHA Inspection: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AUTOMOTIVE AMERICA INC.

Issued

May 14, 2026

Abate by

Jun 17, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

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.   a) On or before February 27 2026, the employer did not ensure energy control procedures were developed, documented and utilized by each authorized employee assigned to perform servicing and maintenance activities that included clearing the rubber tubes away from the blades for the  Zouken Co. Ltd Digital Cutter (model #NKC-325T).

Issued

May 14, 2026

Abate by

Jun 17, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:   (A):Each authorized employee shall 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 and control.  a) On or before February 27, 2026, the employer did not provide each authorized employee, including machine operators of the Zouken Co. Ltd Digital Cutter (model NKC 325T), with authorized employee training in that employees had not received training on the hazards associated with energy sources such as electric and pneumatic energy when performing servicing and maintenance tasks, including clearing rubber tubes from clogging the cutting blades.

Issued

May 14, 2026

Abate by

Jun 17, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

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:  (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. (i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (ii) Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position. (A) Where tagout devices are used with energy isolating devices designed with the capability of being locked, the tag attachment shall be fastened at the same point at which the lock would have been attached. (B) Where a tag cannot be affixed directly to the energy isolating device, the tag shall be located as close as safely possible to the device, in a position that will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device. (5) Stored energy. (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. (ii) If there is a possibility of re-accumulation 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 or before February 27 2026, the employer did not ensure that (d)(1) through (d)(6) was followed by employees performing task such as clearing the cut rubber tubing away from the blades on equipment such as the Zouken Co. Ltd Digital Cutter (model #NKC-325T) located on the shop floor.

Issued

May 14, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.  a) On or about February 27, 2026, the employer failed to ensure that the point of operation on the Zouken Co. Ltd Digital Cutter (model NKC 325T) was properly guarded, in that employees were able to remove the ionizer, exposing them to the cutting blades and creating a caught in hazard.