OSHA Inspection: DOUGLAS COUNTY INC

Issued

Dec 22, 1997

Abate by

Dec 22, 1999

General-duty citation text

ORS654.010:  The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was
safe and healthful
for employees, and did not do every other thing reasonably necessary to
protect the life, safety,
and health of the employees:
(a)  During the recent Accident Investigation at your place of employment
it was noted that the
In-feed conveyor system involved in the accident has been under the
process of remodel and re-
design for quite some time.  Throughout this process injuries have
occurred and the propensity
of other injuries occurring is of serious concern to OR-OSHA.
Until the conveyor remodel is completed some employees are still exposed
and liable to fall on
the conveyor, (even with Fall Protection and/or guardrails), therefore
OR-OSHA requires you
to do something to correct this issue.  Those injuries that are being
sustained while clearing jams
on the deck of the conveyor system are from slips, trips, and falls
against the metal decks and
barriers which amount to fractures, bruises, cuts, and contusions
primarily
due to pickeroon use,
i.e., improper or excessive force applied with the pickeroon causing it to
dislodge suddenly, and
the person falling to the deck or over the side.
During the interim period of remodel, replacement and redesign of the
conveyor system, the
employer must implement alternative measures in which to clear log jams on
the conveyor and
especially at the section known as 4/5 and 5/6.  These methods must
include further training on
the use of the pickeroon (pressure limitations, strippage, materials
densities, etc).  You may also
use a crane or other lifting device/mechanism which would eliminate
exposure to the employee
and the additional need for Fall Protection and other preventative
measures at any and all other
locations when identified by a hazard assessment of the area.
You must take immediate action to reduce and eliminate these types of
injuries from occurring.
Even the addition of fall protection as required by item 2-2 of your
citation, it will not eliminate
the types of injuries outlined in this document.
In addition you may submit a re-engineering plan for the conveyor system
along with a request
for additional time in which to achieve compliance.  The plan must be
designed to reduce all
exposures as outlined in this document and the corresponding citation and
shall include dates for
the final implementation of the re-engineering and details of required
interim personal protection
measures.