OSHA Inspection: GENERAL PALLETS, INC.

Issued

Oct 23, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

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:    On or about August 29, 2012 and times prior thereto, employees of General Pallets, Inc. manufactured pallets in the facility located at 4417 Didier Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  The employer had not administered a hearing conservation program when employee exposures exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 85.      An employee operating a Morgan cut-to-length saw in the Saw Mill (Milling Department) and an employee operating a nail gun machine in the Assembling Department were exposed to continuous noise which exceeded the permissible daily exposure (8-hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA) as follows:    JOB TITLE	                            TWA             DOSE %	  PEL(PEL)  Saw Operator	            92.14	134.5	  Over 90 dB Threshold, PEL  Nail Gun Machine Operator        92.07	133.2	  Over 90 dB Threshold, PEL

Issued

Oct 23, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):     The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:    On or about August 15, 2012 and times prior thereto, an employee of General Pallets, Inc. performed maintenance on machinery to include but not limited to saws and nail gun machines in the facility located at 4417 Didier Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  The employer had not provided training to authorized and affected employees on lock out/tag out.

Issued

Oct 23, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):     The employer 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.    On or about August 15, 2012 and times prior thereto, employees of General Pallets, Inc. performed spray painting on wood pallets near the north wall in the Hand Nailing Department at 4417 Didier Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  The employer had not provided employees with training on the hazards associated with spray chemicals used in the facility.

Issued

Oct 23, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):     Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    On or about August 15, 2012 and times prior thereto, an employee of General Pallets, Inc. performed maintenance on machinery located at 4417 Didier Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  The employer had not developed and documented procedures to be utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy for machines the employee performed maintenance on.