OSHA Inspection: NIAGARA WHOLESALE SUPPLY CO. INC.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Oct 5, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     A continuing ,effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95 (c) through (o) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:    a) Manufacturing Area - A Mill Laborer, operating the Bronco, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 96.7% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 90.0 dBA during the 464 minute sampling period on 6/5/12; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 16 minutes not sampled.    b) Manufacturing Area - A Mill Laborer, working at the manual work station, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 164.4% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.9 dBA during the 460 minute sampling period on 6/5/12; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 20 minutes not sampled.    c) Manufacturing Area - A Mill Laborer, operating the planer, the rip saw, and the band re-saw, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 114.9% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 91.4 dBA during the 457 minute sampling period on 6/5/12; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 23 minutes not sampled.    d) Manufacturing Area - A Mill Laborer, operating the planer, the rip saw, and the band re-saw, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 88.0% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.4 dBA during the 459 minute sampling period on 6/5/12; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 21 minutes not sampled.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Aug 17, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1):     An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    (a)  Throughout facility - On or about 5/31/12, the employer did not provide an educational program to employees who were required, by the employer, to fight incipient stage fires.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(b)(3):     On applications where injury to the operator might result if motors were to restart after power failures, provision shall be made to prevent machines from automatically restarting upon restoration of power.    a) Manufacturing Area - On or about 5/31/12, a Dayton mini swing saw, used to cut wood when breaking down pallets, was not equipped with a magnetic restart.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(h)(4):     Installation was not in such a manner that the front end of the unit was slightly higher than the rear, so that the cutting head  returned gently to the starting position when released by the operator.    a) Manufacturing Area - On or about 5/31/12, the cutting head of the DeWalt radial arm saw did not retuen to the start position when released by the operator.  The radial arm saw was set up to cut straight and to cut on a 45 degree angle.  The cutting head would return to the starting position when cutting straight, but not when cutting on the 45 degree angle.    NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(ii):     Working space required by this standard may not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be suitably guarded.    a) Manual Nailing Station Area - On or about 5/31/12, the disconnect for the air compressor was blocked by pallet forms and storage of other supplies.    NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED