OSHA Inspection: ELLWOOD ENGINEERED CASTINGS COMPANY

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

1910.38(c)(2): The employer did not have a written emergency action plan that included the procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments;  (a) On or about January 12, 2024, the employer did not have a written emergency action plan that included the procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments to ensure a safe means of evacuation from molten metal leaks.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8296.00 · Current $8296.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(13)(ii): The employer did not ensure that fixed ladders that do not have cages or wells have a minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches (76 cm) from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side. Or, when unavoidable obstructions are encountered, a minimum clearance at the obstruction of 24 inches (61 cm), provided deflector plates are installed.  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, a ductile transfer ladle was placed in front the fixed ladder, inside of the casting pit on the climbing side, exposing an employee to a fall hazard of approximately 11' while descending. The minimum perpendicular distance (of 30 inches) from the centerline of the top rung was not maintained and was measured to be approximately 10 inches.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  Except as provided elsewhere in this section 29 CFR 1910.28, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems described in 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i):  (a)  On or about January 13, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee near the ladle pit was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 7 feet & 3 inches while stepping over top of catwalk guardrail system and onto a mold, to operate the ladle handle and pour molten metal into a mold.  (b)  On or about January 13, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an elevated catwalk (near the east side of the casting pit) was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 7 feet & 3 inches while stepping outside of an opened gate and onto a mold as a ladle of molten metal was approaching.  (c) On or about January 12, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an elevated catwalk (near the east side of the casting pit) was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 7 feet & 3 inches while stepping outside of an opened gate, and onto a mold to operate the ladle handle and pour molten metal.  (d) On or about January 12, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee near the ladle pit was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 7 feet & 3 inches while stepping over the catwalk guardrail system and onto a mold, to operate the ladle handle and pour molten metal.  (e) On or about January 11, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee near the ladle pit was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately7 feet & 3 inches while stepping over top of the catwalk guardrail system and onto a mold, to operate the ladle handle and pour molten metal.  (f)  On or about January 6, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an angled rolling ladder along the east casting pit wall was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 12 feet and 6 inches when stepping off the ladder and placing one foot upon to top of the guardrail system, while operating a ladle handle to pour molten metal into a mold.  (g)  On or about January 5, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an angled rolling ladder along the east casting pit wall was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 15 feet when stepping off the ladder and placing one foot upon to top of the guardrail system, while operating a ladle handle to pour molten metal into a mold.  (h)  On or about January 5, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee near the ladle pit was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 7 feet & 3 inches while standing on the catwalk guardrail system to operate the ladle handle and pour molten metal into a mold.  (i) On or about January 4, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an angled rolling ladder along the east casting pit wall was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 12 feet and 6 inches when stepping off the ladder and placing one foot upon to top of the guardrail system, while operating a ladle handle to pour molten metal into a mold.  (j)  On or about January 4, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, an employee on an angled rolling ladder along the west casting pit wall was exposed to an unprotected fall hazard of approximately 12 feet and 6 inches when stepping off the ladder and placing one foot upon to top of the guardrail system, while operating a ladle handle to pour molten metal into a mold.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, employees entered the casting pit under conditions that would require its designation as a permit-required confined space. The employer did not inform an exposed employee, by posting danger signs or other equally effective means, of the existence and location of the danger posed by permit-required confined spaces. Employees are exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, severe thermal burn injuries, and smoke inhalation while molten metal is poured into molds from an overhead ladle.  Note: A sign reading "DANGER - PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER" or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146.  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, employees entered the casting pit under conditions that would require its designation as a permit-required confined space. The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146. Employees are exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, severe thermal burn injuries, and smoke inhalation while molten metal is poured into molds from an overhead ladle.  With respect to the casting pit located in the Casting Department, the company's confined space written procedures lacked the development of items such as, but not limited to, the following:  i. Specific measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry into the casting pit as required by 1910.146(d)(1);  ii. Specific means, procedures, and practices necessary for specifying acceptable condition for entry into the casting pit as required by 1910.146(d)(3)(i);  iii. Specific means, procedures, and practices necessary for verifying that conditions in the casting pit are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry as required by 1910.146(d)(3)(vi);  iv. Specific designation of the persons who are to have active roles in casting pit entry operations as required by 1910.146(d)(8);  v. Specific procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services to the casting pit, for rescuing entrants from the pit, for providing necessary emergency services to employees rescued from the pit, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue into the pit as required by 1910.146(d)(9).

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(2): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees entered:  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees entered them, in that the casting pit was entered under conditions that would require its designation as a permit-required confined space. Employees are exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, severe thermal burn injuries, and smoke inhalation while molten metal is poured into molds from an overhead ladle.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(vii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not ensure that equipment, such as ladders, needed for safe ingress and egress by authorized entrants were used properly:  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, the employer did not develop and implement in their permit-required confined space program, the means, procedures, and practices for employees to safely access and egress a fixed ladder in the mold pit. The company kept a ductile treatment ladle stored within 10 inches of the pit's fixed ladder, thereby exposing employees to restricted access and egress to the fixed ladder in the event of use during normal conditions and during emergencies, like that of a molten metal leak, spill, and/or rapid steam expansion from contact with water.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, employees entered the casting pit under conditions that would require its designation as a permit-required confined space. Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit. Employees were exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, severe thermal burn injuries, and smoke inhalation while molten metal is poured into molds from an overhead ladle.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit-required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, and at times prior, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, the employer did not provide employees with the necessary permit-required confined space training prior to allowing an employee to fully enter the casting pit, to perform the freezing of molten material from molds.  Employees were exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, severe thermal burn injuries, and smoke inhalation while molten metal was poured into molds from an overhead ladle.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $14518.00 · Current $16131.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(n)(3)(vi): The employer did not require that the operator of crane(s) avoid carrying loads over people.  (a) On or about January 13, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, the employer did not ensure that employees were kept clear of a load (ladle of molten metal) suspended by a cab operated overhead crane.  The employee was exposed to severe thermal burns from leaking molten metal from the bottom of the ladle, splashing of molten metal from ladle, and from potential from loss of load crushing hazards, while performing work activity within the casting pit as the ladle was moved overhead.

Issued

2024-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10372.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(c)(9): All employees shall be kept clear of loads about to be lifted and of suspended loads.  (a) On or about January 12, 2024, located at Ellwood Engineered Castings Company in Hubbard, Ohio, the employer did not ensure that employees were kept clear of a load suspended by a steel chain sling from a crane being remotely operated overhead.  The employee was performing work activity directly underneath of the suspended top piece of a stool mold (Cope).