OSHA Inspection: PLUM CREEK MDF, INC.

Issued

Dec 19, 2002

Abate by

Jan 6, 2003

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees 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 the hazard of becoming
caught in a
conveyor system:
(a) Plum Creek MDF, Columbia Falls, MT; The employer did not ensure that
the #2 Fire
Dump conveyor would not start until personnel in the area were alerted by
a signal, alarm,
or a designated person.
(b) Plum Creek MDF, Columbia Falls, MT; The employer did not ensure that
emergency
stop buttons or pull cords were located along the conveyor in the vicinity
of the tail end of
the #2 Fire Dump.
(c) Plum Creek MDF, Columbia Falls, MT; The employer did not ensure that
the
emergency
stop button located at the head end of the #2 Fire Dump was easily
identifiable.
(d) Plum Creek MDF, Columbia Falls, MT; The employer did not ensure that
the Material
Storage conveyor system would not start until personnel in the area were
alerted by a signal,
alarm, or a designated person.
(e) Plum Creek MDF, Columbia Falls, MT; In the areas that were not
protected by guards,
the employer did not ensure that emergency stop buttons or pull cords were
located along the
walkways next to the Material Storage conveyor(s).
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
would be to follow Section 5, General Safety Standards of the ASME
B20.1-1996 Safety
Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.

Issued

Dec 19, 2002

Abate by

Dec 27, 2002

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000