OSHA Inspection: COUGAR PALLET INC

Issued

Aug 12, 2014

Abate by

Sep 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.   The employer does not ensure that places of employment were kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition. This violation was observed on or about May 06, 2014, in the Saw Shop where employees were exposed to explosion hazards due to the accumulation of combustible dust.   Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten(10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that the Saw Shop is kept clean of accumulated wood dust.

Issued

Aug 12, 2014

Abate by

Sep 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 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:   The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or an equivalent does of fifty percent.     (a)  This violation was observed on or about May 5, 2014 in the pallet shop where an employee operating a nail gun was exposed to continuous noise at 220.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dbA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 95.7 dbA during the 419 minute sampling period on 05/05/14; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 61 minutes not sampled.   (b)  This violation was observed on or about May 5, 2014 in the pallet shop where an employee operating a nail gun was exposed to continuous noise at 367.5% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dbA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 99.4 dbA during the 402 minute sampling period on 5/5/2014; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 78 minutes not sampled.   (c)  This violation was observed on or about May 5, 2014 in the pallet shop where an employee operating a nail gun was exposed to continuous noise at 257.3 % of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dbA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 96.8 dbA during the 410 minute sampling period on 5/5/2014; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 70 minutes not sampled.   (d)  This violation was observed on or about May 5, 2014 in the saw shop where an employee operating a rip saw was exposed to continuous noise at 89.9 % of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dbA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 89.2 dbA during the 409 minute sampling period on 5/5/2014; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 71 minutes not sampled.   (e)  This violation was observed on or about May 5, 2014 in the saw shop where an employee operating a band saw was exposed to continuous noise at 93.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dbA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 89.5 dbA during the 368 minute sampling period on 5/5/2014; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 112 minutes not sampled.   Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that employees exposed to noise levels of 85 decibels or greater measured as a 8- hour time- weighted average are included in a continuing and effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Aug 12, 2014

Abate by

Aug 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):  The employer does not ensure that that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l). This violation was observed on about May 5, 2014, at the Cougar Pallet facility where industrial truck operators and employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while operating forklifts without successful training.     Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps that it is taking to ensure that all powered industrial truck operators at the facility is trained in the safe operation of these trucks.