OSHA Inspection: APPLING COUNTY PELLETS, LLC

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,820 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.     a). Pellet Storage Area- On or about 27 August 2013, the pedestrian exit door was obstructed by a mound of wood pellets, thus exposing employees to life safety hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.67(c)(2)(v): A body belt shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift.     a). Throughout Mill- On 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees were wearing personal fall protection equipment when working from a JLG (model 600A) Articulating Boom Lift, thus exposing employees to a fall hazard of up to approximately a80 feet onto earthen ground.     b). Throughout Mill- On 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees were wearing personal fall protection equipment when working from a Genie (model S-85) aerial lift, thus exposing employees to a fall hazard of up to approximately 80 feet onto earthen ground.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): The employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure that permit-required confined space procedures were implemented when employees perform work in permit spaces during production and shutdown periods, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer did not test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure atmospheric monitoring is conducted prior to employees entering permit spaces during production and shutdown periods, thus exposing employees to atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(6): The employer did not provide at least one attendant outside the permit space into which entry was authorized for the duration of entry operations.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure that a attendant was present outside permit spaces for the entire duration of entry operations during production and shutdown periods, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not develop and implement procedures for rescuing entrants working in permit spaces in the event an of emergency during production and shutdown periods, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(10): The employer did not develop and implement a system for the preparation, issuance, use, and cancellation of entry permits.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not establish a system that details the responsible parties for the handling of entry permits, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures by preparing an entry permit.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure entry permits were completed prior to entry into permit-required confined spaces during production and shutdown periods, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(7): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify the hazards of the permit space to be entered.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the entry permits utilized by the employer did not identify specific hazards that employees would encounter when entering permit spaces, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f)(11): The entry permit that documented compliance and authorized entry to a permit space did not identify the rescue and emergency services to be summoned and the means for summoning those services.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the entry permits utilized by the employer did not identify rescue and emergency services contact information and the means that they would be requested, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by this section acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this section.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure that employees performing work in permit-required confined spaces had received the required training, thus exposing employees to caught-in and atmospheric hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section.    a). On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees were utilizing energy control procedures, thus exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.    b). On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not develop and document energy control procedures for multi-energy source machines and equipment such as, but not limited to pellet surge bins, coolers, conveyors, and furnace feeder, thus exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.     a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not conduct periodic inspection of the energy control procedures at least annually, thus exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls were acquired by employees.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not provide adequate training in function of the energy control program, thus exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment.    a). Pellet Mill Facility- On or about 27 August 2013, personal lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to a pellet mill when four employees were adjusting the rolls on it, thus exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,730 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees operating a Caterpillar (model P5000-D) powered industrial truck had completed training required by this section, thus exposing employees to struck-by hazards.    b). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees operating a Caterpillar (model P5000) powered industrial truck had completed training required by this section, thus exposing employees to struck-by hazards.    c). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure employees operating a JLG Skytrak (model 6036) powered industrial truck had completed training required by this section, thus exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,133 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): If at any time a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck shall be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition.     a). Throughout Mill- On or about 30 August 2013, employees were operating a Volvo (model L110F) front end loader with two rear brake lights, two lower headlights, and a reverse alarm that were not functional, thus exposing employees to struck-by hazards.    b). Throughout Mill- On or about 30 August 2013, employees were operating a Caterpillar (model 950H) front end loader with a right lower headlight, right rear brake light, and right rear turn signal that were not functional, thus exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,547 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.    a). Conveyor/ Drag Chain 1405- On or about 22 August 2013, there was an unguarded shaft on the Whirleqiq speed switch, thus exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,185 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning. Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.     a). Breezeway Area- On or about 22 August 2013, employees used compressed air with an attached GuardAir Ultra Series air gun operating at approximately 105 psi to clean dust off their bodies and their clothing, thus exposing employees to an injection hazard.       b). Breezeway Area- On or about 22 August 2013, employees used compressed air to clean front end loaders with an air wand that did not reduce the air pressure to less than 30 psi under static conditions, thus exposing employees to an struck-by hazard.     c). Pellet Mill Facility- On or about 22 August 2013, employees used compressed air to clean pellet machines with an air wand that did not reduce the air pressure to less than 30 psi under static conditions, thus exposing employees to an struck-by hazard.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iv): Before cutting or welding is permitted, the area shall be inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations. He shall designate precautions to be followed in granting authorization to proceed preferably in the form of a written permit.    a). Throughout Mill- On or about 22 August 2013, the employer did not ensure inspections were completed prior to authorizing welding and/or cutting operations, thus exposing employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Feb 18, 2014

Abate by

May 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(d)(9)(iii): Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors shall be replaced. Joining lengths of work and electrode cables shall be done by the use of connecting means specifically intended for the purpose. The connecting means shall have insulation adequate for the service conditions.     a). Throughout Mill- On or about 27 August 2013, employees were using a portable Miller Trailblazer 302 Welder/Generator in which the outer welding cable insulation was damaged in two locations revealing internal wires, thus exposing employees to electrical hazards.