OSHA Inspection: MIDDLEFIELD PALLET, INC.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to    On or about May 6, 2016, employees were exposed to fall hazards while climbing stacks of pallets. The pallets at the time of climbing are not secured and present an uneven work surface.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Nov 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to establish and implement a program for the control of hazardous energy. Employees are engaged in maintenance and servicing of equipment in the facility including but not limited to saws, nailers, notchers, and motors. Hazardous energies present include electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, and mechanical.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:    On or about May 6, 2016, employees were exposed to the pinch point of the pallet flipping mechanism and arm of the #2 nailer line. No guard was in place to prevent employees from contact with the pinch point where the arm meets the table. This movement runs automatically without direction from the operator.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(r)(4): Suitable guard(s) were not provided to reduce to a minimum the hazard due to the point of operation of the double notcher and the chop/cut off saw:      On or about April 18, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the two headed Chop/ Cut off saw was effectively guarded to prevent employees from contacting the rotating blade. The equipment did not contain an automatically adjustable guard which could be adjusted dependent on the size of material being cut

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Nov 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.    a) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that effective guarding was in place over the pinch area between the belt and pulleys of the big saw line. No guarding was in place.    b) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that effective guarding was in place over the pinch area between the belt and pulleys of the 2 head chop saw line. No guarding was in place.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    a) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the chains and sprockets operating the movement of pallets on the #1 nailer line were effectively guarded to prevent employee contact with the hazard.     b) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the chains and sprockets operating the movement of pallets on the #2 nailer line were effectively guarded to prevent employee contact with the hazard.     c) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the chains and sprockets operating the movement of pallets on the big saw line were effectively guarded to prevent employee contact with the hazard.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:    a) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the electrical junction box located on the wall behind the whirlwind planer was effectively covered to prevent employee contact with the conductors.    b) On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the electrical junction box located side of the #1 line nailer which provided power for the timer was effectively covered to prevent employee contact with the conductors.

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Abate by

Jul 27, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap:     On or about May 6, 2016, the employer failed to ensure that the flexible cord in use at the Whirlwind planer was used in a continuous length that did not contain a splice.