OSHA Inspection: PIONEER MILLWORKS INC.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:    a)  Packaging/Shipping Area, on or about 8/7/13: The emergency exit was blocked with a cart that was parked in front of the door.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,520 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:    a) Rip Saw Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Sawyer was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 159.6% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 159.6% dose is approximately 93.4 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 462 minutes. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 18 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear plugs.    b) Molder Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Molder Operator was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 91.9% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 91.9% dose is approximately 89.4 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 474 minutes.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 6 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear muffs.    c) Molder Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Leader was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 98.7% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 98.7% dose is approximately 89.9 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 464 minutes.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 16 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear muffs.    d)  Rip Saw Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Millwright was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 87.9% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 87.9% dose is approximately 89.1 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 478 minutes.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 2 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear plugs and ear plugs.    e)  Stacking and Grading Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Laborer was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 82.2% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 82.2% dose is approximately 88.6 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 464 minutes.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 16 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear muffs.    f)  Head Saw Area, on or about 8/21/13: An employee working as a Head Sawyer was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 138.4% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit.  The equivalent dBA for the 138.4% dose is approximately 92.3 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 8/21/13 for 469 minutes.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 11 minutes not sampled. Employee was wearing ear plugs.     Abatement methodology:      Step 1: An effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) shall be maintained.  An effective hearing conservation program shall include, at a minimum:      (1)  a baseline audiogram for all employees exposed to noise levels equal to or in excess of the standard.      (2)  Annual audiograms for each overexposed employee      (3)  analysis of audiogram results with retesting and/or referral to an otolaryngologist or qualified physician when a significant threshold shift occurs.  A significant shift will be considered to be equal to or greater than an average of 30 dba over the 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz frequencies.      (4)  Where insert ear plugs or custom-molded devices are utilized, individual employee fitting shall be conducted by a trained person, and employees shall be instructed in the care and use of the devices.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1):  A copy of 29 CFR 1910.95 was not made available to affected employees or their representatives nor was a copy posted in the workplace:   a)  Wood Manufacturing Areas, on or about 8/21/13: The employer did not provide a copy of 1910.95 to the affected employees, or post a copy in the workplace, when employees were exposed to noise that exceeded the 8-hour time weighted average.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)  Employer did not establish nor implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures when respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators were required by the employer:    a)  Molding Area, on or about 8/7/13: Employer had not established a written respirator protection program when employees were wearing half face air purifying respirators.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards:   a)  Molding Area, on or about 8/7/13: The employer had not done a respiratory evaluation when employees are wearing half face air purifying respirators.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:   Note:  The employer may discontinue an employees medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.   a)  Molding Area, on or about 8/7/13: Employee wears a half face air purifying respirator and had not been provided with a medical evaluation.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Abate by

Oct 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)  The employer did not provide effective, comprehensive, understandable, and annual (or more often if necessary) training to employees who are required to use respirators:   a) Molding Area, on or about 8/7/13: Employee wears a half face air purifying respirator and had not received respirator training.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4): Portable fire extinguishers were not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition:         a)  Denailing Area, on or about 8/7/13: A fire extinguisher was not in operable condition, it was found discharged.

Issued

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    a)  Upper Molder Area, on or about 8/7/13: Employees using compressed air for cleaning purposes was measured at approximately greater than 100 p.s.i.    b)  Molding Area, on or about 8/7/13:  Employees using compressed air for cleaning purposes was measured at approximately greater than 100 p.s.i.