OSHA Inspection: CEDAR CREEK RENEWABLE ENERGY CORP

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3803.00 · Current $1900.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to combustible dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards while working at or near dust collection system which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of a deflagration or other uncontrolled fire event:  a)  North side of production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 dust collection equipment was located inside the building where a class II combustible dust, with an explosive severity of 2.81, was allowed to accumulate to a depth of 1/32" or greater  b)  On the production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 processing equipment such as grinders and pellet mills connected to ductwork which lacked abort gates and spark detection systems were in proximity to areas where a class II combustible dust, with an explosive severity  2.81,  was allowed to  accumulate to a depth of 1/32" or greater    c)  Eastside of production floor, horizontal band saw:  On and before September 15, 2016 ductwork on the local dust collection was non-metallic and located in proximity to areas where a class II combustible dust, with an explosive severity of 2.81, was allowed to accumulate to a depth of 1/32" or greater  Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.  (a)  In the production area: On and before September 15,2016, Class II combustible dust, with an explosive severity of   2.81, was allowed to accumulate on horizontal surfaces to a depth of 1/32" or greater  Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(c): Storage areas were not kept free from accumulation of materials that constituted hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harborage:  (a)  Main production area: On and before September 15, 2016, Class II combustible dust, with an explosive severity 2.81, was allowed to accumulate to a depth of 1/32 inches on the south and west mezzanines used for storage.   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  (a) Electrical Panels, west wall: On and before September 15, 2016 knockouts were missing on energized 480 volt electrical panels and exposed to class II combustible wood dust, with an explosive severity of 2.81   (b) On top of office mezzanine: On and before September 15, 2016 junction box was not enclosed and exposed to a class II combustible wood dust, with an explosive severity of 2.81  Note: Abatement certification  and documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:  (a)  Production area, various locations throughout: On and before September 15, 2016 electrical open motor fans, outlet boxes, breaker panels, normal lighting snap switches, and portable electric heater were exposed to a class II combustible wood dust, with an explosive severity of 2.81  Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3803.00 · Current $1900.00 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 were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  a)  On the production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure and/or enforce the use of seat belts while operating powered industrial trucks.  b) On the production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure seat belts were available for employees while operating the Toyota LP powered industrial truck.  Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not 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):  (a) On production floor, On and before, September 15, 2016 employees required to use fork trucks were not trained or evaluated on their competency to operate a powered industrial truck safely.   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2173.00 · Current $1090.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:  (a) Near the grinder, on the production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, employees were not required wear hearing protection, and hazardous noise levels (approximately 91.6 dBa) were not controlled by other means.  (b) Near pellet mill, on the production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, employees were not required wear hearing protection, and hazardous noise levels (approximately 90.6 dBa) were not controlled by other means.  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:  (a) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around the grinder are exposed to a noise dose of 91.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 348 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 91.7 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 108.6 dBA  (b) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around pellet mills are exposed to a noise dose of 90.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 331 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 90.6 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 112.4 dBA  (c)  Mechanic Room: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around exposed to a noise dose of 54.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 332 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 88.3 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 118.4 dBA  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  (a) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around the grinder are exposed to a noise dose of 91.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 348 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 91.7 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 108.6 dBA  (b) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around pellet mills are exposed to a noise dose of 90.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 331 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 90.6 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 112.4 dBA  (c)  Mechanic Room: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around exposed to a noise dose of 54.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 332 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 88.3 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program. Peak level was 118.4 dBA  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  (a) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around the grinder are exposed to a noise dose of 91.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 348 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 91.7 dBA, and peak level was 108.6 dBA. The employee was not part of an audiometric testing program   (b) Production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around pellet mills are exposed to a noise dose of 90.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 331 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 90.6 dBA, and peak level was 112.4 dBA. The employee was not part of an audiometric testing program  (c)  Mechanic Room: On and before September 15, 2016 employees working with and around exposed to a noise dose of 54.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 332 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 88.3 dBA, peak level was 118.4 dBA. The employee was not part of an audiometric testing program.  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2716.00 · Current $1360.00 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:  (a) Northwest production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, the employer did not establish a lock-out tag-out program for working on the shaker tray and wood grinder during routine maintenance and/or upset conditions.  (b) North production floor: On and before September 15, 2016, the employer did not establish a lock-out tag-out program for working on the pellet mills #1 and #2 during routine maintenance and/or upset conditions.  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2716.00 · Current $1360.00 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:  (a) North side of production floor, pellet mill  #1: On and before September 15, 2016 equipment with rotating parts was not protected from unintentional contact by employees.  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2173.00 · Current $1090.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:  (a) Mechanic shop: On and before September 15, 2016, work rests were missing from the 8" bench grinder.   Note: Abatement certification are required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  (a)  Mechanic Shop: On and before September 15, 2016 the tongue guards were removed and/or adjusted such that the safety guard member exceeded the one fourth inch from the wheel  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3803.00 · Current $1900.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:  (a) Trim saw on the west side of the production floor:  On and before September 15, 2016 exposed rotating shaft on a conveyor approximately 4 feet from the ground was not protected from unintentional contact by employees.   (b) North side of the hammer mill, north of structure: On and before September 15, 2016 exposed rotating shaft approximately 18 inches from the ground was not protected from unintentional contact by employees.   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  (a) Near the sawdust storage bin, north of structure: On and before September 15, 2016 exposed rotating shaft ends  approximately 5 feet from the ground were not protected from unintentional contact by employees.   (b) North side of the hammer mill, north of structure: On and before September 15, 2016 exposed rotating shaft approximately 18 inches from the ground were not protected from unintentional contact by employees.   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  (a) Trim saw west side of production floor: On and before September 15, 2016 exposed belts and pulleys powering a  conveyor approximately 4 feet from the ground was not protected from unintentional contact by employees.   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) North end of the bagging conveyor: On and before September 15, 2016 chain and sprocket wheels approximately 24 inches above the floor were not protected from unintentional contact by employees   (b)  Flow controller on the duct attached to saw dust storagebon Northeast side of building:  On and before September 15, 2016 chain and sprocket wheels approximately 6 feet above the ground were not protected from unintentional contact by employees   Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii): Assigned storage spaces for cylinders was not located away from elevators, stairs, or gangways where cylinders could not be knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized persons:  (a) Outside mechanic shop: On and before September 15, 2016 used compressed gas canisters located in high forklift traffic area were not secured or protected from being knocked over or damaged from passing vehicles.   Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

2017-02-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) At the facility: On and before September 15, 2016, the employer did not implement or maintain a hazard communication program for employees working with hazardous chemicals including high temperature lubricants, welding gasses welding materials and wood products such as but not limited to western red cedar.   Note: Abatement certification is required for this item.