OSHA Inspection: WALNUT CREEK PLANING, LTD.

Issued

Nov 24, 2015

Abate by

Feb 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,150 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:    The employer did not ensure employees who performed servicing and maintenance on and around a dry kiln auger conducted the following:    (1) know the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy,  (2) turn off and shut down the machines,  (3) physically locate and operate energy isolating devices in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source,   (4) affix lockout or tagout devices to each energy isolating device,   (5) prior to starting work on machines that have been locked out or tagged out, verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.    a. On or about June 5, 2015, located at the Kiln Building at the Winesburg facility, an employee was attempting to unjam the kiln sawdust in-feed auger #2 by manually manipulating a belt and pulley from a step ladder when the unexpected startup of the electric drive motor connected to the pulley rotated the employees finger into the ingoing nip point between the belt and pulley resulting in an amputation.      b. On or about June 5, 2015, located at the Kiln Building at the Winesburg facility, an employee was troubleshooting the kiln sawdust in-feed auger #2 when the employee bypassed a guard in an effort to identify a problem within the confines of the auger chute, thereby exposing the employee to the ingoing nip points of the auger if an unexpected startup of the machine would occur.

Issued

Nov 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,913 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.  On or about June 12, 2015, located at the De-sticker, the operator moved lumber along a chain conveyor while being exposed to an ingoing nip point at the chain and sprocket that was not guarded, thereby exposing employees to an amputation hazard.