OSHA Inspection: SOLON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Issued

Jul 15, 1998

Abate by

Dec 31, 1999

Penalty

Initial $55,000 · Current $20,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to pinching and crushing injuries caused by handling,
stacking, moving, and lifting
bolts of birch wood, some in excess of 200 pounds.
a.Woodroom - Employees were lifting bolts of wood up to and greater than
200
pounds and stacking them on a cart,loading them onto debarking machine,
lifting
them off the debarking machine and loading them onto another cart, pushing
carts
into steam kiln, stacking them in the steam kiln from the floor level to 5
feet high
and then lifting them off the steam kiln racks and loading them back onto
carts,
and lifting bolts from cart to chain conveyor to be transported to second
floor.
b.Lathe room, cart loader - Employee was removing bolts of wood from the
chain
conveyor and manually loading them onto carts and pushing the carts to the
lathe
area.
c.Lathe room, lathe loader - Employees were manually lifting the bolts of
wood
from the carts and loading them onto the lathes.
d.Coe lathe - Employee was manually lifting bolts of wood from cart and
loading
them onto lathe.
Among other methods, acceptable methods to abate the hazard include:
1.Use of debarking machines that would debark the entire log to eliminate
the need
to handle the bolts for debarking.
2.Use of Conveyor system to transport the bolts from the saw to loading
area.
3.Use of mechanical assist to load bolts onto racks.
4.Use of racks instead of carts so bolts can be transported into and out
of steam
kilns using a fork truck.
5.Install elevator to take racks from first floor wood room to second
floor lathe
room and eliminate chain conveyor.
6.Install automatic feeder on lathes so that eliminate manual loading and
unloading
of bolts on lathe.
7.Require use of hoist for Coe lathe or install automatic feed.
8.Use mechanical assist to move bolts from racks to lathes.
STEP 1:SUBMIT TO THE AREA DIRECTOR A WRITTEN, DETAILED PLAN OF
ABATEMENT OUTLINING A SCHEDULE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL
EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIAL HANDLING AS
REFERENCED IN THIS CITATION.  THIS PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A
MINIMUM, TARGET DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHICH MUST
BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ABATEMENT DATES REQUIRED BY THIS
CITATION:
(1)EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING/ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
OPTIONS;
(2)SELECTION OF OPTIMUM CONTROL METHODS AND COMPLETION OF
DESIGN;
(3)PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF SELECTED
CONTROL MEASURES; AND
(4)TESTING AND ACCEPTANCE OR MODIFICATION/REDESIGN OF
CONTROLS.
NOTE: ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR
EACH PARTICULAR USE BY A COMPETENT, TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED
PERSON.  NINETY (90) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING
THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.
STEP 2:ABATEMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF FEASIBLE ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS UPON
VERIFICATION OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE.
(Specific abatement documentation is required.)ion

Issued

Jul 15, 1998

Abate by

Jul 21, 1998

Issued

Jul 15, 1998

Abate by

Jul 21, 1998

Issued

Jul 15, 1998

Abate by

Jul 21, 1998