OSHA Inspection: PETIT LAWN MAINTENANCE INC.

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 19 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 or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent:      a)   A lawn care technician using a riding mower, string trimmer and leaf blower, was exposed to continuous noise at 70.73% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) during the 294 minute sampling period on 10/10/2013; exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 186 minutes not sampled.      b)  A lawn care technician using a walk-behind mower, string trimmer and leaf blower, was exposed to continuous noise at 72.11% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) during the 292 minute sampling period on 10/10/2013; exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 188 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition:    The Worktunes ear muff hearing protectors were available for the use of employees; the ear pads were missing from these muffs.

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2):  The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage firefighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:      Although portable fire extinguishers were available for employee use, neither initial, nor annual retraining was provided.      Note:  Employer may exercise one of the following options.      1.  Provide portable fire extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR1910.157(c)(1), meet the distribution requirements per 29 CFR1910.157(d) (75 feet to the nearest extinguisher for Class A fires and 50 feet to the nearest unit for Class B fires), and provide training and education for all employees in the use of such equipment and the hazards associated with incipient stage firefighting as required in 29 CFR 1910.157(g). The other sections of 29 CFR also apply.      2.  Provide extinguishers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1),designate certain employees to be the only employees authorized to use such equipment and require all other employees to immediately evacuate upon the sounding of the fire alarm, establish this in writing in an emergency action plan as outlined in 29 CFR1910.38(a) and train/educate designated employees per 1910.157(g).Utilizing this option exempts the employer from distribution requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157(d).      3.  Establish a written fire safety policy which requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon the sounding of a fire alarm signal.  This policy shall include an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan as specified in 29CFR 1910.38(a) and (b).  Utilizing this option exempts the employer from the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.157 to include the need for providing portable fire equipment unless a specific standard requires that a portable fire extinguisher be provided (such as those requirements in 29 CFR 1910.106/107 related to use/storage of flammable/combustible liquids).  If extinguishers are provided, but not intended for employee use, 29 CFR 1910.157(e) and (f) are still applicable (inspection, maintenance, and testing of equipment).

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $2000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:      A Stihl gasoline powered string trimmer was not provided with a guard.  The guard is necessary to prevent the employee from being struck by rocks, pebbles and other debris which can be thrown by the trimmer.

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.243(e)(1)(ii): All power-driven chains, belts, and gears were not so positioned or otherwise guarded to prevent the operator's accidental contact therewith, during normal starting, mounting, and operation of the machine.      Belt guards were missing on lawn mowers used on the job site employee using the mowers can contact these belts where they wrap around the pulleys.      The 52 inch Skag rider mower had unguarded belts on the top, right side of the mower deck.

Issued

2013-12-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.243(e)(2)(i): The mower blade was not enclosed fully, except on the bottom, and the enclosure did not extend to or below the lowest cutting point of the blade in the lowest blade position.      Chute guards were missing on lawn mowers used on the job site the blades were exposed to contact and debris was thrown by the mowers; this could strike another employee.      a) The 52 inch Advantage Deck, walk behind mower.      b) The 52 inch Skag rider mower.      c) The 48 inch Skag rider mower.