OSHA Inspection: VALLEY VIEW PALLETS INC.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 20, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:    a.  In the pallet manufactuers plant where power tools and other equipment is operated, the employer did not develop a personal protective equipment assessment to determine what equipment is need to protect employees from hazards in the workplace.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Mar 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4): The employer shall assure that portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times except during use:    a.  In the generator room, the fire extinguisher, which was available for use in case of fire had been discharged, thereby exposing employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 20, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    a.  In the plant where pallets were manufactured, the employer did not provide fire extinguisher training for the employees working in the facility thereby exposing employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 3, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck (except for training purposes), the employer shall ensure that each operator has successfully completed the training required by this paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5).    a.  In the sawmill where powered industrial trucks were operated to move pallets around the facility, the employer did not provide training in the safe operation of the powered industrial trucks thereby exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Mar 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one-half (1/2) inch.    a.  In the generator room, the fan on the back side of the generator which supplies power to the pallet manufacturing was missing a guard over the fan thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Where both runs of horizontal belts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor level, the guard shall extend to at least fifteen (15) inches above the belt or to a standard height, except that where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor, the belt shall be fully enclosed in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section.  a.  In the generator room where power is provided to run the pallet shop, there was an unguarded belt and pulley, thereby exposing employees to caught-in hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Mar 11, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.    a.  In the back room of the pallet manufacturing facility, the main electrical panel box was missing circuit breakers thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.    b.  In the back room of the pallet shop where pallets were assembled, there were unused openings where large circuit breakers were missing thereby exposing employees to a electrical hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Mar 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(2): Panelboard enclosures. Panelboards shall be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons.    a.  In the production area beside the storage room door, the dead front cover was taken off the energized electrical panel exposing live electrical circuits thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Mar 11, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords may be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap. Hard-service cord and junior hard-service cord No. 14 and larger may be repaired if spliced so that the splice retains the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord being spliced.    a.  In the sawmill where boards are cut to size, the employer had a spliced cord in two spots and was using the energized electrical cord in an area where there was a high dust content thereby exposing employees to a electrical hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 20, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 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, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:    a.  In the sawmill where pallets were assembled, the employer did not develop a Hazard Communication Program to inform employees of the hazards associated with the chemicals they use thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.

Issued

Mar 1, 2016

Abate by

Apr 20, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and,    a.  In the sawmill where employees handled chemicals such as, but not limited to. gas and oils, the employer did not train employees in the proper and safe handling of the chemicals thereby exposing employees to a contact hazard.