OSHA Inspection: QUALITY PALLET & RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

Jul 27, 2016

Abate by

Aug 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,020 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms were not kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition:     (a)  On the south side of the shop, horizontal surfaces were excessively layered with wood dust.   These surfaces included, but were not limited to, a pipe which ran horizontally along the south wall approximately 15 feet above floor level, ledge(s) that abutted the south wall, the Dayton 2 Stage Dust Collector, the top surface of the Baker Model A "Re-Saw", and the floor adjacent to the south wall.   This condition potentially exposed workers to a fire hazard.

Issued

Jul 27, 2016

Abate by

Oct 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,020 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 1910.95(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:        (a)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee dismantling pallets and repairing pallets was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 174.7% during a 480 minute sampling period on July 21, 2016.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of approximately 94.0 dBA.    (b)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee dismantling pallets and operating a chop saw was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 80.9% during a 475 minute sampling period on July 21, 2016.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 88.5 dBA; the 8-hour time weighted average determination included zero increment for the unsampled 5 minutes.       (c)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee operating a chop saw was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 72% during a 470 minute sampling period on July 21, 2016.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 87.6 dBA; the 8-hour time weighted average determination included zero increment for the unsampled 10 minutes.       (d)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  Employee(s) making pallets and repairing pallets were exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 164.9% during a 460 minute sampling period on July 21, 2016.  This noise exposure equated an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of approximately 93.6 dBA; the 8-hour time weighted average determination included zero increment for the unsampled 20 minutes.

Issued

Jul 27, 2016

Abate by

Aug 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,020 · Current $440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(3)(i): A flexible cord used with grounding type equipment shall contain an equipment grounding conductor.    (A)  The flexible cord for the Dayton 2-Stage Dust Collector (Model 3AA17B, Lot No. 0067), which was used to collect wood dust generated by operation of the Baker Re-Saw,  did not have a grounding prong conductor on the plug. This condition exposed workers to an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Jul 27, 2016

Abate by

Oct 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,020 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:     (a)    Quality Pallet & Recycling, Inc. did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(d)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:    1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals;    2) Safety Data Sheet (SDS) availability;    3) Training of employees;    4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace;    5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and    6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of safety data sheet availability; the labeling system; and any precautionary measures to protect employees.    Workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including wood dust, nail gun lubricant, and propane.