OSHA Inspection: MERRITT BROTHERS LUMBER COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1) One or more methods of machine guarding were 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) Adjacent to the F2 Reject Table:  An eight-inch wide conveyor system to collect reject wood pieces projected twenty-four inches perpendicularly into a walkway.  The conveyor system was not guarded with a standard railing and toe board or other means to prevent injury.    b) Adjacent to Stacker/Bander F2 Station: A stairway was located next to a conveyor system designed to collect wood pieces.  To access the stairway from an employee walkway employees had to walk over the conveyor while it was operating.   Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(4)(vi): Walkways and stairways were not provided with standard handrails in elevated and hazardous locations. Passageways over walkways or work areas did not have standard toe boards provided.  a) Adjacent to the F2 Reject Table:  An eight-inch wide conveyor system to collect reject wood pieces projected twenty-four inches perpendicularly into a walkway.  The conveyor system was not guarded with a standard railing and toe board.    b) Adjacent to Stacker/Bander F2 Station: There was no walkway over the top of a conveyor system designed to collect wood pieces.  Employees had to walk over the conveyor while it was operating.   Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(c)(1):  Each circular hand-fed ripsaw was not guarded by a hood which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut.  a) Maintenance Area:  The plastic hood on a ten inch Delta Table Saw Model 36-650 was damaged and was missing a portion of the plastic guard.  The hood did not completely enclose the portion of the saw above the material being cut.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  a) Adjacent to the Baker Resaw Station:  Access was completely obstructed to the disconnect switch for the Aitken Infrared Heater, Model OH-454, rated at 480 Volts.  A garbage dumpster was located directly in front of the switch.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(ii): In locations where electric equipment was likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards were not arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage.  a) Adjacent to Stacker/Bander Station F2:  A receptacle outlet rated at 110 Volts was partially damaged and did not have enclosures or guards to prevent such damage.  b) Adjacent to Baker Resaw Station:  A receptacle outlet rated at 110 Volts had been damaged by an adjacent garbage dumpster, and it did not have enclosures or guards to prevent such damage.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(2)(ii):  The neutral conductor of a single-phase, three-wire system was not grounded.  a) Adjacent to Stacker/Bander Station F2:  A receptacle outlet rated at 110 Volts was partially damaged and had an open neutral.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings were not effectively closed.  a) Adjacent to Stacker/Bander Station F2:  A receptacle outlet rated at 110 Volts was partially damaged and was missing two knockouts.  b) Control Panel for the Reject Table F2:  The control panel rated at 110 Volts was missing knockouts and was open to the environment.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i)  All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers identified for that purpose.  a) Adjacent to F2 Finger Joint Station: Junction boxes rated at 110 Volts were missing covers and were open to the environment.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(c)(3):  Equipment was not safe for the location, and was not of a type and design that the employer demonstrated will provide protection from the hazards arising from the combustibility and flammability of vapors, liquids, gases, dusts, or fibers involved.   a) Adjacent to the Baker Resaw Station:  The Aitken Products 480 Volt 4.5 Amp Infrared Heater (Model OH 454) was located where wood dust and ignitable material was present.  The heater was placed in a Class III location in spite of the following hazard warning from Aitken Products:  "DANGER! Hazard of fire.  Infrared heaters must not be operated where combustible materials, flammable gasses, vapors or corrosives are present.  Combustible material should not be placed in radiation path."   Abatement certification AND supporting documentation ARE required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(f)(3):  The employer did not use dust-tight protection techniques for equipment in Class II, Division 2 and Class III locations.  a)  Circuit Breaker Panel - Structural Line 'A' MCC:  Dust tight protection techniques were not utilized for this circuit breaker panel rated at 480 Volts.  The panel is located in a Class III location and wood dust was entering the panel because doors protecting the circuit breakers were open.  The circuit breakers with doors open included the Main Disconnect and A5 Cold Press - Air Brake Belt.  Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

May 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom was not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.  a) Glue Room:  Residual glue from leakage had not been cleaned from floor surfaces.  The glue includes a catalyst and hardener called Wonderbond to join together pieces of wood.  The product contains up to 30% Formic Acid.  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Apr 21, 2014

Abate by

Jun 6, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):  In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.  a) Glue Room: Employees utilized a 3M Model 6800 elastomeric full face respirator while working in the Glue Room and engaged in tote changing procedures.  The employer has not established a respiratory protection program for utilization of this respirator that includes medical evaluations, fit testing, and maintenance of respirators.  Abatement measures for this item shall include the following: 1) Documenting procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; 2) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; 3) Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; 4) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; 5) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance.  Abatement certification is required for this item.