OSHA Inspection: MAINE WOODS PELLET CO., LLC.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii):   The employer shall certify that the periodic inspections have been performed. The certification shall identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.    Site Wide - The employer did not certify that the 2011 periodic inspections had been performed.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i):    The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:    At the Site - On or about November 09, 2012, an employee who was not trained in lockout procedures for the dry hammermill sustained injuries after removing a cover to the rotor blades.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1):    Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.    Dry Hammermill Airlock - On or about November 09, 2012, an employee, who had four fingers and two finger tips avulsed by rotor blades while brushing wood chips away from the front opening of the airlock, was not trained to recognize the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the methods or means to control the energy before removing the airlock panel cover.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(2):    Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage.    Dry Hammermill-   The employee was not trained to shut down the hammermill by using the procedures established for the equipment.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3):    Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).    Dry Hammermill - On November 09, 2012, there were no energy isolating devices applied to the dry hammermill in order to control the energy, avulsing an employee's four fingers and 2 finger tips.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.    Dry Hammermill - On or about November 09, 2012, an employee sustained injuries when brushing chips away from the airlock opening without a lockout or tagout device applied to the energy source.

Issued

Dec 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(c)(4): Clearance in back of ladder. The distance from the centerline of rungs, cleats, or steps to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder shall be not less than 7 inches, except that when unavoidable obstructions are encountered, minimum clearances as shown in figure D-3 shall be provided.    Hammermill - The fixed ladder leading up to the plaftform had two water pipes cross approximately 4 1/2" behind the ladder and less than 4 1/2" below rung between rungs 3 & 4 and 16 & 17.