OSHA Inspection: A LIST WOOD WORKS, INC.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Jan 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to the hazards of dust explosions, deflagrations, and other fire hazards due to the employer's dust collection systems:   (a)  Main production area:  On or about 7/30/13, the dust collector for the panel saw and the dust collector for the edge bander, which processed wood products, were located together inside an enclosure.  The dust collection system, including ductwork, lacked fire/explosion detection, prevention, and protection devices.  Potential sources of ignition include, but are not limited to:  1.  Sparks from the non-explosion-proof fan which was operating in the room, its cord which did not have a ground prong or strain relief, and the flexible cord energizing it which was being used as permanent wiring.   2.  Sparks originating from tramp metal getting entrained into the exhaust system.   3.  Static electricity discharges.  4.  Mechanical failures causing overheating of components.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition:   (a)  Production area:  On or about 5/17/13, an accumulation of combustible wood dust over 1/32 of an inch thick was located on areas comprising over 5% of the area of the room, including, but not limited to, the overhead L-beams, conduits, and pipes, the windowsills and shelves, and the tops of the office, compressor room, dust-collector room, and stairwell.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Oct 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1750

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors:  (a)  Spray room:  On or about 5/1/13, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide solution was stored in the same cabinet with flammable materials such as, but not limited to, paints, stains, solvents, and polyester resin.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Oct 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(f)(3): Sprinklers protecting spraying areas were not kept as free from deposits as practical by cleaning daily if necessary:  (a)  On or about 5/1/13, an employee was using the spray booth, and the sprinkler had not been kept as free from deposits as practical, in accordance with this section.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:   (a)  On or about 5/1/13, the spray booth operator voluntarily wore a respirator provided by the employer, and the employer had not provided the employee with the information contained in Appendix D, in accordance with this subpart.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  (a)  On or about 5/1/13, the spray booth operator voluntarily wore a respirator provided by the employer, and the employer had not established and implemented a written program in accordance with this subpart.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a)  On or about 5/17/13, the spray booth operator was spraying material such as, but not limited to, Sherwin-Williams Water Reducible Hi Build Texture Finish F73WL504, which causes eye irritation, and the eyewash station was not connected to a water supply, in accordance with this section.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:   (a)  Dust collector room:  On or about 7/30/13, the electrical cord energizing the fan in the exterior wall did not have a grounding prong, and the path to ground was not permanent, continuous, and effective in accordance with this subpart, exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:   (a)  Dust collector room:  On or about 7/30/13, a flexible cord was being used as permanent wiring to energize the fan in the exterior wall, exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:   (a)  Dust collector room:  On or about 7/30/13, the cord energizing the fan in the exterior wall was not connected so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws, in accordance with this subpart, exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:   (a)  Dust collector room:  On or about 7/30/13, the fan in the exterior wall which was being used to exhaust the room was not approved for use in a hazardous location in accordance with this subpart, exposing employees to a combustible wood dust fire hazard.

Issued

Oct 22, 2013

Abate by

Nov 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

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)  Spray room:  On or about 5/1/13, the spray booth operator was working in the same room in which methyl ethyl ketone peroxide solution was stored in the same cabinet with incompatible, flammable materials such as, but not limited to, paints, stains, solvents, and polyester resin, exposing him to fire and explosion hazards.  The employer did not have a written hazard communication program in accordance with this subpart.  (b)  Production area:  On or about 5/17/13, employees were exposed to a combustible dust hazard, and the employer did not have a written hazard communication program in accordance with this subpart.