OSHA Inspection: ROCKY MOUNTAIN PELLET COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program, the employer did not determine acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized.    a) Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc., @ 1000 Jackson County Road 12, Walden, CO:   On and prior to May 1, 2012, the employer had not ensured appropriate atmospheric testing was conducted prior to entering the wood pellet dryer to perform an inspection and subsequent welding modifications.  Condition exposed an employee to a potential oxygen deficiency.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Under the permit-required confined space program, the employer did not determine that acceptable entry conditions were maintained during the course of entry operations.    (a) Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc., @ 1000 Jackson County Road 12, Walden, CO: On and prior to May 1, 2012, the employer had not ensured appropriate atmospheric testing was conducted while an employee performed welding inside the wood pellet manufacturing dryer. Condition exposed an employee to a potential oxygen deficiency and or hazards associated with welding fumes.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Nov 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146:    (a) Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc., @ 1000 Jackson County Road 12, Walden, CO: On and prior to May 1, 2012, the employer had not ensured appropriate training was provided and understood by employees entering the wood pellet dryer machine to perform welding modifications. Prior to and during entry, atmospheric testing and an emergency rescue plan had not been developed and implemented. Condition exposed entrants to hazards associated with oxygen deficient atmosphere, welding fumes, and delayed rescue in the event of an emergency.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each member of the rescue service was provided with, and trained to use properly the personal protective equipment and rescue equipment necessary for making rescues from permit spaces:    (a) Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc., @ 1000 Jackson County Road 12, Walden, CO: On and prior to May 1, 2012, the employer had not ensured emergency rescue services were available prior to entering the wood pellet dryer machine. The employer had designated a voluntary fire department as the rescue agency per the employers written confined space permit dated April 19th, 2012.  Condition has employee(s) exposed to delayed medical attention in the event of an emergency.     (b) The employer has not pre-planned specific appropriate methods to rescue employees working inside the multiple zone wood pellet dryer machine. Condition has employees exposed to hazards associated with delayed rescue in the event of an emergency.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed  Abatement-Certification Letter).

Issued

Oct 24, 2012

Abate by

Nov 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,200 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3):   Under the permit space program required by paragraph (C ) (4) of this section, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit confined space entry operations:    (a) Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc., @ 1000 Jackson County Road 12, Walden, CO: On and before May 1, 2012, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe confined space entry. After a fire occurred inside the Earth Care wood dryer on April 18th, 2012, an employee entered the dryer to inspect for damage. As a result, an employee reentered the dryer to weld metal flights onto the rotating drum to facilitate movement of the wood product. This condition exposed employee(s) who enter the dryer to potential atmospheric hazards while welding and a delay in rescue in the event of an emergency.    Abatement Note: For each identified permit space or a group of similar spaces, the employer must:  1. Specify acceptable entry conditions.  2. Provide each authorized entrant the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing permit spaces;  3. Provide a means to isolate the permit space;  4. Describe necessary purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating of the permit space necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards;  5. Provide pedestrian, vehicle, or other barriers as necessary to protect entrants from external hazards; and   6. Verify that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry.    Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Sample Abatement Certification Letter).    Note: Rocky Mountain Pellet Company, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 311911564, citation number 01, item number 4a, issued on June 17,  2009, with respect to a workplace located at 1000 Jackson County Road 12 West, Walden, CO.