Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001B Hazard:

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 before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Cosmotex Cutter (model # Smart 1.8 meter), where employees were working, was properly guarded in that the light curtain was only located on the operator's side low to the ground. The light curtain was only located on one side of the machine and did not prevent employees from reaching over, around and through to the point of operation. The operator could still reach into the machine to hold the material to keep it tight to allow the machine to cut the cloth/vinyl. The light curtain would not protect employees from a stuck-by hazards due to the control panel of the cutter protruding approx. 12" out into the work area while the cutting head would moved up and down within the work area exposing employees to a struck-by hazard during normal production. b) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Thor Laser Cutter (model # TH45200/C), was guarded in that the cutting head area was within reach of the operator using the foot pedal to start the cutting of the cloth/vinyl. c) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Thor Laser Cutter (model # TH45200/C) was guarded in that the mesh belt system is hanging below the working conveyor system at approx. 19" from the floor, therefore exposing employees to a caught-in hazard. d) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the area where the resin deliver system located on Line #4 Roll Coater Spearhead Job #9519, was guarded in that a moving chain that was approximately. 72" from the ground exposing employees to a caught in hazard while employees were in the process of taking resin samples. e) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the area where the resin deliver system located on Line #5 Roll Coater Spearhead Job #9958, was guarded in that a moving chain that was approximately. 72" from the ground exposing employees to a caught in hazard while employees were in the process of taking resin samples. f) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Line #2 Williams-White 300-ton Press (model #SH-300-96-90) was properly guarded in that the operational controls were located inside of the press and during the stretching operations only one of the four employees involved in the stretching operation had operational controls to engage the clamping system that created pinch point located inside of the press. g) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Line #6 St. Lawrence 150-ton Press(Job #9410) was properly guarded in that the operational controls were located inside of the press and during the stretching operations only one of the four employees involved in the stretching operation had operational controls to engage the clamping system that created pinch point located inside of the press. h) On or before 5/9/2023 the employer did not ensure that the Line #6 Water Jet Tool cutter was properly guarded in that employees would be working on the inside of the light curtains while positioning the material for cutting, with another employee on the other side of the water jet with possession of the activation control.