On July 31, 2016, a contract employee at an automobile manufacturing facility was replacing a motor on a robot on the first floor of the facility. While he did so, three maintenance technicians were performing a preventive maintenance inspection on a conveyor on the upper level of the facility. When the contract employee completed his task, he restarted the conveyor from the master control panel. The conveyor began to move. At that same moment, one of the technicians had placed his hand on one of the conveyor’s belts. His hand was pulled into the conveyor, amputating three fingers. The company timely reported the injury to the OSHA Area Office. Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) James Oglesby of that office performed an inspection of the facility beginning on December 2, 2016. Based upon his inspection, CSHO Oglesby recommended the company be issued a two-item serious citation alleging failure to notify the maintenance technicians of the restart of the conveyor and failure to properly train them on lockout procedures for the conveyor. The Secretary proposes a total penalty of $21,140.00 for the Citation. The company timely contested the Citation bringing the matter before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For the reasons discussed below, Item 1, Citation 1, is VACATED; Item 2, Citation 1, is AFFIRMED, and a penalty of $12,675.00 is assessed.