OSHA Inspection: RAPID PALLETS INC.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (8-hr TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.    On or about July 15, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform wood pallet manufacturing operations were exposed to noise in excess of 85 dBA (8-hour TWA) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program had not been instituted to protect employees against the hazard of hearing loss:    1. An employee assembling wood pallets assembly was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 101.9 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 521 percent during the 442 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 38 minutes not sampled.    2. An employee operating a band saw was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 97.9 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 301 percent during the 423 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 57 minutes not sampled.    3. An employee breaking down wood pallets was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 96.6 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 248 percent during the 455 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 25 minutes not sampled.    4. An employee repairing wood pallets was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of 96.3 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 241 percent during the 433 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 47 minutes not sampled.    5. An employee assembling wood pallets was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of 96.3 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 240 percent during the 435 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 45 minutes not sampled.    6. An employee operating a single-notching machine was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of 96.3 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 240 percent during the 446 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 34 minutes not sampled.    7. An employee operating a resaw machine was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of 89.3 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 90.4 percent during the 420 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 60 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall 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):    On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to operate propane-powered forklift trucks during wood pallet manufacturing operations had not been provided with the required training and evaluation specified in this paragraph.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Electrical installations. Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations shall be intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:    On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform wood pallet manufacturing were exposed to the fire hazard of combustible wood dust accumulations on electrical equipment, including a disconnect switch box at a resaw machine.  The disconnect switch box was not approved for the Class II Division 2 hazardous (classified) location.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable:  On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform wood pallet manufacturing were exposed to the hazard of fire due to accumulations of wood dust on electrical equipment and floors.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Other substances -- 8-hour Time Weighted Averages. An employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which is not preceded by a "C", shall not exceed the 8-hour Time Weighted Average given for that substance in any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week:    On or about July 15, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to operate the single-notching machine was exposed to airborne wood dust at an 8-hour time weighted average concentration of 30.8 milligrams per cubic meter, approximately 2.0 times the permissible exposure limit of 15.0 milligrams per cubic meter, during a 423 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the 57 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and/or technical measures used for this purpose must be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1910.134. [71 FR 16673, April 3, 2006]:  On or about July 15, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to operate the single-notching machine was exposed to airborne wood dust in excess of the permissible exposure limit (see Item 5a).  Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not first determined and implemented to achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section.  General methods of control that may be feasible and applicable to the process include, but are not limited to, the following:  Install approved local exhaust ventilation dust collection system(s) at the discharge outlet of the single-notching machine and at discharge outlets of other wood processing machines and equipment.  Abatement normally will be multistep as follows:  STEP 1:  Effective respiratory protection in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protection measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented, or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.  Abatement Period: 30 days  STEP 2: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to total dust.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:  1. Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; 2. Selection of optimum control methods and completion design; 3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures; 4. Testing and acceptable or modification/redesign of controls.  All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Abatement Period: 60 days  STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance:  Abatement Period: 90 days

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:    On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to manufacture wood pallets were exposed to the health and physical hazards of wood dust including respiratory irritation and fire.  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least described how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of the section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training would be met.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets:  On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to manufacture wood pallets were exposed to the health and physical hazards of wood dust including respiratory irritation and fire.  The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:  On or about July 8, 2015, in the facility, employees required to manufacture wood pallets were exposed to hazards necessitating the use of personal protective equipment.  The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.

Issued

Sep 21, 2015

Abate by

Nov 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1): Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition shall be removed from service. All repairs shall be made by authorized personnel:  On or about August 25, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform wood pallet manufacturing operated propane-powered forklift trucks with carbon monoxide emissions in excess of 1.0%:  Toyota SN# 65591 - approximately 7.00% Toyota SN# 66959 - approximately 1.90 % Nissan SN (?) - approximately 1.80%  Inhalation of excessive levels of carbon monoxide can result in headaches, nausea, and chemical anoxia.