OSHA Inspection: PALLET COMPANIES, INC.

Issued

Sep 24, 2013

Abate by

Nov 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $7,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

The Pallet Companies, Inc. dba IFCO Systems North America, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 1910.95(c)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 311979124, citation number 1, item number 1(a) and was affirmed as a final order on August 13, 2009 with respect to a workplace located at 601 Neelytown Road, Montgomery, NY 12549.    29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(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, operating the Bandsaw, was exposed to a noise dose of 237.1%, or an equivalent dBA of 96.2 dBA, which was capable of causing permanent hearing loss. The sampling was performed for 221 minutes during one shift on August 2, 2013.      b.  An employee, repairing pallets in the builder work area, was exposed to a noise dose of 91.0%, or an equivalent dBA of 89.3 dBA, which was capable of causing permanent hearing loss. The sampling was performed for 230 minutes during one shift on August 2, 2013.    The employer did not administer an effective hearing conservation program in that they did not implement and administer:    1)    A monitoring program of employee noise exposure in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(d);    2)    Employee training and education regarding noise hazards and protection measures in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(k);    3)    Baseline and annual audiometric testing in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(g) & (h); and     4)    Recording keeping maintanence in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(m).