OSHA Inspection: ATLAS SOUTHWEST PALLET COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Jul 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards:  On or about March 20, 2014, employee(s) were exposed to a struck-by hazard from the operation of a Caterpillar Industrial Truck (Model 2PD4000, SN: AT18C31082) without the use of a seatbelt.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,920 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(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) Building #4 and #5: On or about April 22, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) performing pallet assembly using a Bostitch N70CB Pneumatic Air Gun were exposed to continuous noise at a dose of 89.0% (8-Hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 423 minute sampling period. For a full eight hour work shift this exposure is equivalent to an average sound level of 89.2 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 57 minutes not sampled.      b) Building #6: On or about April 22, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) performing pallet repair using a Bostitch N70CB Pneumatic Air Gun were exposed to continuous noise at a dose of 88.2% (8-Hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 413 minute sampling period. For a full eight hour work shift this exposure is equivalent to an average sound level of 89.1 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 67 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:    Building #4, west side: On or about March 20, 2014, employee(s) were exposed to fire hazards from the lack of accessibility to a fire extinguisher, which was blocked by stacked wooden pallets.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(i): Refresher training, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of that training, was not conducted as required by paragraph (l)(4)(ii) to ensure that the operator had the knowledge and skills needed to operate the powered industrial truck safely:  Pallet Yard: On or about March 20, 2014, the employer did not provide refresher training for employee(s) who operate  forklift trucks, including but not limited to a Caterpillar Industrial Truck (Model 2PD4000, SN: AT18C31082).

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:  a) Building #3: On or about March 20, 2014, employee(s) were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards from an unanchored Speedway Series 16 Speed Drill Press which was used for facility and equipment maintenance processes.  b) Building #3: On or about March 20, 2014, employee(s) were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards from an unanchored Dayton Bench Grinder (Model 4Z672) which was used for facility and equipment maintenance processes.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(a)(9): All belts, pulleys, gears, shafts, and moving parts were not guarded in accordance with the specific requires of 1910.219:    a) Building #5: On or about March 20, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) were exposed to caught-in hazards from an unguarded rotating shaft and unguarded ingoing nip-point, in which employee(s) hands come within approximately six inches of, on a Smith Band Resaw used for wood work.    b) Building#5: On or about March 20, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) were exposed to a caught-in hazard from an unguarded rotating shaft on a Newman Dado/Notcher Machine used for wood work.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(2): Abrasive wheel(s) used on grinding machinery were not provided with safety guard(s) which covered the spindle end, nut, flange projections:  Building #3: On or about March 20, 2013, employee(s) were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards from a Dayton Bench Grinder (Model 4Z672) which lacked safety guards for grinder wheels.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  Building #3: On or about March 20, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) were exposed to electrical hazards from a power switch with exposed electrical wiring on a Speedway Series 16 Speed Drill Press.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1): On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate:  Building #3: On or about March 20, 2014, and times prior there to, employees were exposed to a struck-by hazard from materials that were stored above an area used for office space and work space that was not rated for a load capacity or for storage use.

Issued

Jul 18, 2014

Abate by

Aug 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:   a) Building #4 and #5: On or about April 22, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) were not provided with more than one suitable style of hearing protectors to choose from for protection from noise exposure exceeding an 8-hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA in the work place while operating a Bostitch N70CB Pneumatic Air Gun for pallet assembly.  b) Building #6: On or about April 22, 2014, and times prior there to, employee(s) were not provided with more than one suitable style of hearing protectors to choose from for protection from noise exposure exceeding an 8-hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA in the work place while operating a Bostitch N70CB Pneumatic Air Gun for pallet repair.