OSHA Inspection: STAIRWORKS, INC.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,956 · Current $2,069 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): The work area was not kept in a clean and orderly manner.  a) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, wood dusts coated the floor in woodworking areas, such as but not limited to, the Grizzly Table Saw area and the Stair Router Model 40 woodworking area  Exposing employees to fire, burn, slip and fall hazards.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,552 Reduced

Hazardous substances 91359210

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) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were wearing half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from hazards of wood dust when using powered wood working equipment and the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program which covered the minimum  requirements.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 91359210

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  a) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were wearing half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from hazards of wood dust when using powered wood working equipment and the employer did not provide training for voluntary elastomeric respirator use, to cover at a minimum, medical evaluations, limitations, cartridge change out, cleaning, and storage.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,552 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:   a)  Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, the employer provided fire extinguishers to employees woodworking and creating sawdust, and the employer did not provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: By this date the employer must either correct the alleged violation or implement a Fire Safety Policy, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and (b) which included the evacuation requirement of 29 CFR 1910.157(b).

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,956 · Current $2,069 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not being conducted at least once every three years:  a) Stairworks - On or about December 5, 2017, a forklift driver who operates a forklift daily to move wooden crates and offload trucks, had not received an evaluation of the effectiveness of the previous training, exposing employees to forklift hazards.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7):  Powered industrial trucks were not examined at least daily before being placed in service.  a) Stairworks - On or about December 5, 2017, a forklift driver operates a forklift daily to move wooden crates and offload trucks, and a daily pre-operational inspection was not conducted, exposing the employee to forklift hazards.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6): The employer did not ensure that all nameplates and markings were maintained in a legible condition:  a) Stairworks - On or about December 5, 2017, a forklift driver operates a forklift daily to move wooden crates and offload trucks, and the employer did not ensure that the forklift ID/capacity tag was legible, exposing the employee to forklift hazards.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,552 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  a) Stairworks - On or about December 5, 2017, employees were exposed to flying wood dust particles and other compressed air hazards during the use of air nozzles to remove dust from work surfaces and their clothing.  The pressure was not reduced as required.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,552 Reduced

Hazardous substances V106W103

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) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, wood glue and wood dust, and 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.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: A written program shall include descriptions of how the criteria for the following will be met: 1.  Labeling, pictograms, and other forms of warning; 2.  Safety Data Sheets; 3.  Employee information and training.    Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non-routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazards, including a description of the labeling system used in the facility and of the availability of material safety data sheets, must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances V106W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v):  a) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were using Wilsonart 30 Wood Adhesive, a hazardous chemical, from secondary containers that were not labeled with the product identifier and did not have hazard warnings to include pictograms and precautionary hazard statements.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances V106W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  a) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, wood glue and wood dust, and the employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they used.  batement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 22, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances V106W103

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) Stairworks - On or about November 9, 2017, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, wood glue and wood dust, and the employer did not provided effective information and training on hazards of such chemicals as required.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: Employees shall be informed of the following: 1. The requirements of this section; 2. Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present; 3. The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and Safety Data Sheets.    Employee training shall include at least: 1. Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemical in the work area. 2. The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area. 3. The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures and personal, protective equipment to be used. 4. The details of the employer's Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by the employer; Safety Data Sheets, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.