OSHA Inspection: ELIXSON WOOD PRODUCTS, LLC

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,805 · Current $1,402 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a. An employee, working between the conveyors of the Big Mill removing rocks from the mulch, was exposed to a noise dose of 87.48%, or and equivalent dBA (decibels "A" scale) of 89.0 dBA, which is capable of causing hearing loss. The sampling was performed for 385 minutes during one shift on July 9, 2012.  The employer did not administer a continuing and effective hearing conservation program.      b.  An employee, working on the Big Mill removing rocks from the mulch, was exposed to a noise dose of 97.71%, or and equivalent dBA of 89.5 dBA, which is capable of causing hearing loss. The sampling was performed for 388 minutes for one shift on July 9, 2012.  The employer did not administer a continuing and effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,683 · Current $840 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05271340F104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a.  On or about July 9, 2012, the employer's written hazard communication program did not unclude a description on how employee information and training requirements will be met.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05271340F104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The written hazard communication program did not include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present, using an identity that was referenced on the appropriate material safety data sheet:    a. On or about July 9, 2012, the company's hazard communication program did not include a list of chemicals present at the facility such as, but not limited to, mulch dyes and gasoline.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05271340F104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    a. On or about July 9, 2012, IBC tote tanks containing mulch dyes and two 250-gallons gasoline tanks were not labeled or marked with the appropriate health hazard warnings.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05271340F104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace:    a. On or about July 9, 2012, the employer did not maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace such as, but not limited to, gasoline, and mulch dyes.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05271340F104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area and chemical-specific information was not always available through labels and material safety data sheets:    a. On or about July 9, 2012, employees working with and/or around the 250-gallons gasoline tanks and with mulch dyes were not provided with information on the physical and health hazards of these chemicals and how to interpret the information contained on the material safety data sheets.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i):  When the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible, the employer did not provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D of this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"):    a. On or about July 9, 2012, the employer had available one strap dust and filtering masks for employees to use on a voluntary basis and did not provided them with the information contained in Appendix D of the respiratory protection standard.

Issued

Sep 26, 2012

Abate by

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification:    a. On or about July 19, 2012, the employer had available for employees to use on a voluntary basis a one strap dust and filtering mask that was not NIOSH-certified.