OSHA Inspection: CRATE AND PALLET PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(4): Safeguard(s) designed to protect employees during an emergency (e.g., sprinkler systems, alarm systems, fire doors, exit lighting), were not in proper working order at all times:    On or about January 26, 2016, employees in the pallet repair area are exposed to burn and smoke inhalation injures and the emergency "Exit" illuminated signage was not operational at the following:    a) North end of the building, West exit.    b) North end of the building, East exit.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(4): Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:  On or about January 26, 2016, employees were exposed to smoke inhalation and burn hazards and the employer did not mark the exit routes along the North and South sides of the centrally located office leading to the exit doors at the East and West sides of the building.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 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:    On or about February 2, 2016, the employer did not administer an effective hearing conservation program that included noise monitoring, required use of suitable hearing protectors, training, audiometric testing, and recordkeeping for employees repairing pallets:    a)  employee one was exposed to continuous noise levels at 121.3-percent of the permissible daily noise exposure, or an equivalent sound level of approximately 91.3 dBA, during the 417-minute sampling period on February 2, 2016; exposure calculations include a zero increment of 63-minutes not sampled.    b)  employee two was exposed to continuous noise levels at 125.5-percent of the permissible daily noise exposure, or an equivalent sound level of approximately 91.6 dBA, during the 354-minute sampling period on February 2, 2016; exposure calculations include a zero increment of 126-minutes not sampled.    c)  employee three was exposed to continuous noise levels at 92.59-percent of the permissible daily noise exposure, or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.4 dBA, during the 407-minute sampling period on February 2, 2016; exposure calculations include a zero increment of 73-minutes not sampled.    d)  employee four was exposed to continuous noise levels at 122.6-percent of the permissible daily noise exposure, or an equivalent sound level of approximately 92.3 dBA, during the 425-minute sampling period on February 2, 2016; exposure calculations include a zero increment of 55-minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities such as repair, service and/or maintenance of equipment.    On February 2, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in and caught-between hazards when cleaning, unjamming, and repairing the Pallet Repair Conveyor consisting of 4-chain driven conveyors, 5-gravity conveyors, 1-tipper conveyor, 4-stackers, and 3-overhead sweep transfer units and the employer did not develop, document, and utilize procedures to control potentially hazardous mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic energy.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.    On February 2, 2016, the employer did not clearly and specifically outline the steps on how to shut down and isolate the Pallet Repair Conveyor consisting of 4-chain driven conveyors, 5-gravity conveyors, 1-tipper conveyor, 4-stackers , and 3-overhead sweep transfer units, and employees were exposed to caught-in and caught-between hazards from the release of stored energy when cleaning at the Pallet Repair Conveyor components, and unjamming pallets caught between the PRS Overhead Sweep and Stacker 3.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment were not physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy sources:    On February 2, 2016, employees were exposed to caught-in and caught-between hazards when unjamming pallets caught between the PRS Overhead Sweep and Stacker 3 and the employer did not ensure the hydraulic, electric, and pneumatic energies at the PRS Overhead Sweep and Stacker 2 were isolated prior to unjamming the pallets.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(5)(i): Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy were not relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.    On or about March 2, 2015, employees were exposed to caught-in and caught-between hazards when cleaning the Pallet Repair Conveyor (consisting of 4-chain driven conveyors, 5-gravity conveyors, 1-tipper conveyor, 4-stackers, and 3-overhead sweep transfer units) after energy isolation devices were applied to the electrical breakers and compressed air valve, and the employer did not ensure potentially hazardous hydraulic and pneumatic energies were rendered safe.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(6): Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that had been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee did not verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment had been accomplished    On or about March 2, 1016, employees were exposed to caught-in and caught-between hazards when cleaning the Pallet Conveyor and the authorized employee did not verify isolation of the following Pallet Repair Systems, Inc. equipment:    a) pneumatic energy from the 120-G air compressor supplying the 4-stackers and 1-tipper.    b) hydraulic energy from the hydraulic pumps supplying the 4-stackers, 1-tipper, and 3-overhead sweep transfer units.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace:    On or about January 26, 2016, the employer did not ensure forklift operator certifications included practical exercises performed by the trainees.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above the floor or platform were not enclosed:    On or about February 2, 1016, employees working at the Pallet Repair Conveyor Operator Station were exposed to caught-in hazards with two unprotected rotating sprocket wheels at the chain-driven conveyors to the East and West of the Operator Station because the chain guard end covers were removed.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)(ii): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards, based on the mechanical strength and durability, including, for parts designed to enclose and protect other equipment, the adequacy of the protection thus provided:    Employees were exposed to electrical shock hazard:    a) on or about February 2, 2016 and a flexible cord used to power a conveyor motor on the West side of the Pallet Repair Conveyor Operator Station and the outer insulation was pulled away from the motor exposing the inner wiring.    b) on or about March 2, 2016 and a flexible cord used to power a hydraulic pump power unit at the Pallet Repair Conveyor Operator Station and the outer insulation was pulled away from the motor exposing the inner wiring.

Issued

Mar 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.30(a): 29 CFR 1904.30(a):  The employer did not keep a separate OSHA 300 Log for each establishment that was expected to be in operation for one year or longer:    On or about December 1, 2015, an employee suffered an injury and the employer did not keep a separate OSHA 300 form, Log of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses in 2015 for the Beardstown, Illinois location.