OSHA Inspection: RANCH CREEK LTD

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(1): Circular handfed ripsaw(s) were not guarded by an automatically adjusting hood which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and above the material being cut:       (a)Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446:  On and before May 7, 2013 the point of operation, on the Alden rip saw in the resaw room, was not guarded at the exposed portion of the blade, to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zone during operating cycles.  This condition exposed the employee to the hazard of amputation.       Abatement Note: To properly guard the saw:       (a)Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be guarded by a hood.       (1)The hood shall completely enclose that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut.       (2)The hood and mounting shall be arranged so that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut but it shall not offer any considerable resistance to insertion of material to saw or to passage of the material being sawed.       (3)The hood shall be made of adequate strength to resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, and handling, and shall be so designed as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. It shall be made of material that is soft enough so that it will be unlikely to cause tooth breakage.       (4)The hood shall be so mounted as to insure that its operation will be positive, reliable, and in true alignment with the saw; and the mounting shall be adequate in strength to resist any reasonable side thrust or other force tending to throw it out of line.       (b)Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be furnished with a spreader to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator.       (1)The spreader shall be made of hard tempered steel, or its equivalent, and shall be thinner than the saw kerf.       (2)The spreader shall be of sufficient width to provide adequate stiffness or rigidity to resist any reasonable side thrust or blow tending to bend or throw it out of position.       (3)The spreader shall be attached so that it will remain in true alignment with the saw even when either the saw or table is tilted.(c)Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be provided with non-kickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator. They shall be   designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of materials being cut.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft without being guarded by non-rotating caps or safety sleeves:    (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that a rotating shaft on the diagonal conveyor projected less than one half the width of the shaft, unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves. The rotating shaft measured approximately 2.5" in length, and 1.5" in width. The condition exposed employees to contusions, lacerations, and fractures.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(ii): The unused keyway(s) of projecting shaft end(s) were not filled up or covered:  (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that a rotating shaft with and unused keyway located on the diagonal conveyor was filled in. The condition exposed employees to contusions, lacerations, and fractures.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Horizontal belts operated 7 feet or less from the floor level were not fully enclosed by guards conforming to requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):     (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from amputation hazards and caught-in-between hazards associated with the belt and pulley drive systems located on the dowel machine. The condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(b)(1): Flywheel(s) with parts seven feet or less above floor(s) or platform(s) were not guarded in accordance with the requirments specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(iv).  Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from injury involving a flywheel and drive pulley system located on the dowel machine. The flywheel in the pulley system was not guarded and accidental contact exposed employees to fractures and amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18)(i): Pulley(s), sprocket(s), sheave(s), drum(s), and block(s) of conveyor(s) were not arranged to prevent the possibility of injury due to hands or parts of clothing being caught between the belt(s) and pulley(s) or chain(s) and sprockets:     (a) Ranch Creek Ltd @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that an employee who was cleaning sawdust in and around the Scrag Mill was protected from an in-running nip points associated with the tail end pulley roller of a conveyor located below the Scrag Mill. On May 7th, 2013, an employees arm was lodged between the tail end roller and rubber conveyor belt which caused injury and an eventual partial amputation. This condition exposed the employee to amputation hazards.   (b) Ranch Creek Ltd @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from in-running nip points associated with the tail end pulley roller of the diagonal conveyor located below the Resaw Room. This condition exposed the employee to amputation hazards.   (c) Ranch Creek Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446:  On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from amputation hazards and caught-in-between hazards associated with the belt and pulley drive systems located on the scrag mill conveyor.  The condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.  (d) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains were guarded. The out feed deck on the Scrag Mill had an exposed chain and sprocket that was unguarded from incidental contact by employees. This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.  (e) Ranch Creek, Ltd @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains were guarded. The in-feed chain deck located on the Scrag Mill had an exposed chain and sprocket that was not guarded from incidental contact by employees. This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.  (f) Ranch Creek, Ltd @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that sprocket wheels and chains guarded. The infeed deck on the dowel machine had an exposed chain and sprocket that was not guarded from incidental contact by employees. This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(d)(3)(vii): Log decks; Circular cut off saws or circular log bucking saws shall be so located and guarded as to allow safe entrance to and exit the building.    (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure circular cut off saws located on the Scrag Mill trim deck were guarded. The trim deck had tandem 24" saw blades that exposed employees to amputation hazards from incidental contact. The condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(e)(2)(iii): Twin circular head saw rigs such as scrag mill saws shall be provided with a substantial hood or guard. A screen or other suitable device shall be placed so as to protect the sawyer from flying particles.    (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure the twin circular head saws located on the Scrag Mill were provided with a substantial hood or guard. Employees working in the stacking area were exposed to amputation hazards from the point of operation associated with the Scrag Mill head saws. The condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,225 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(e)(4)(ii)(b): End saws on trimmer saw(s) were not guarded;    (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure end saws located on the Newman MK-16 were guarded from accidental contact. This condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 24, 2013

Abate by

Aug 13, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental  contact by approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures, or other means listed under this provision:    (a) Ranch Creek, Ltd. @ 441 Hwy 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before May 7th, 2013, the employer did not ensure that live parts operating at 50 volts or more were guarded against accidental contact to live electrical circuitry by an approved cabinet or other enclosure, in that, an opening measuring approximately 2"x 2" was open on the deadfront of the electrical panel. The sub panel was located within the electrical room in the Resaw area. The condition exposed employees to shock and electrocution hazards.