OSHA Inspection: FREEDOM SOUTH LLC

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,847 · Current $1,108 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11)(ii): Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers was not equipped with stair rail systems and handrails in accordance with Table D-2, Stairway Handrail Requirements:  (a) Exterior stairs, on or about and at times proceeding to March 9, 2017, stairway of 6-risers was not equipped with a standard stair rail and handrail system.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $1,738 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) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, the employer did not institute an effective hearing conservation program for a floor assembler who was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90.2 dBA during the 487 minute sampling period, which is 2.06 times the Action Level of 85 dBA, resulting in a progressive hearing loss hazard.  (b) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, the employer did not institute an effective hearing conservation program for a rafter assembler who was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 89.5 dBA during the 468 minute sampling period, which is 1.9 times the Action Level of 85 dBA, resulting in a progressive hearing loss hazard.  (c) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, the employer did not institute an effective hearing conservation program for a wall assembler who was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 87.9 dBA during the 486 minute sampling period, which is 1.5 times the Action Level of 85 dBA, resulting in a progressive hearing loss hazard.  An effective hearing conservation program [see CFR 1910.95(c) through (n)] shall include at a minimum for all employees exposed to noise levels with 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA the following elements:       1. Representative noise sampling to determine who must be included in the hearing       conservation program [see 1910.95(d)]       2. The notification of employees exposed to the above noise levels [see 1910.95(e)]       3. Employee observation of the above monitoring [see 1910.95(f)]       4. A baseline audiogram for all employees exposed to noise levels equal to or in excess       of the 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA [see 1910.95(g)]       5. Yearly audiograms for each overexposed employee.  These audiograms shall meet the       requirements of 1910.95(h). Testing shall be performed on instruments that meet the       performance and calibration requirements of 1910.95(h) and appendices C,D,and E of       6. A variety of hearing protectors made available to all overexposed employees [see       1910.95(i)]. Hearing protection mandatory for employees exposed to noise levels above       90 dBA [see 1910.95(j)]       7. A training program emphasizing the following: the purpose of fitting, advantages and       disadvantages of hearing protectors, the purpose and explanation of audiometric testing,       and the effects of noise [see 1910.95(k)]       8. Employee access to copies of the noise standard (1910.95) and information pertaining       to the standard [see 1910.95(l)].       9. Maintenance of employee exposure records and access to those records [see 1910.95(n)

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,078 · Current $1,847 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a forklift:  (a) Yard and production area, on or about and at times preceding March 8, 2017, the employer did not provide forklift training for employees who operated forklifts.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s).  (a) Yard and Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 8, 2017, the backup alarm was not functional and tires were severely gouged with missing tread on Nissan 60 forklift when used for transporting lumber products.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,847 · Current $1,108 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(d)(2): Panelboards, other than the dead front externally-operable type and accessible only to qualified persons, were not mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and/or were not dead front:  (a) In Truss Department, on or about and at times preceding to March 8, 2017, the panel box where employees routinely turned on light switches, contained unused openings, exposing employees to live parts, creating an electrical shock hazard.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, the employer did not implement a respiratory protection program for an employee using a 3M half mask elastomeric respirator with 6006 multi-chemical cartridges while spray staining PPG - LV 201016 Sun Proof Exterior Sealant-Honey Gold.  A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program for voluntary use shall include all of the following requirements:       1.  Written standard operating procedures governing the use of the respirators.       2. Employers must provide (free of charge) a medical evaluation to determine each       employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.       3.  The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their       limitations.       4.  Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary       condition.       5. Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and       contamination.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, a medical evaluation had not been conducted for an employee using a 3M half mask elastomeric respirator with 6006 multi-chemical cartridges while spray staining PPG - LV 201016 Sun Proof Exterior Sealant-Honey Gold.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:   (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, 3M half mask elastomeric respirator with 6006 multi-chemical cartridges that was used while spray staining PPG - LV 201016 Sun Proof Exterior Sealant-Honey Gold was stored on a shelf in the open.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2037

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:   (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 9, 2017, respirator training had not been conducted for an employee using a 3M half mask elastomeric respirator with 6006 multi-chemical cartridges while spray staining PPG - LV 201016 Sun Proof Exterior Sealant-Honey Gold.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 8, 2017, the employer has not developed a hazard communication program to address workplace chemicals such as but not limited to: propane, stains, lubricants, wood dust, and asphalt shingles.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 8, 2017, the employer did not maintain a safety data sheet for each workplace chemical such as but not limited to: propane, stains, lubricants, wood dust, and asphalt shingles.

Issued

Jun 20, 2017

Abate by

Jul 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) Production Area, on or about and at times preceding to March 8, 2017, the employer does not provide training on/for each hazard in the workplace including chemicals such as but not limited to: propane, stains, lubricants, wood dust, and asphalt shingles.