OSHA Inspection: THE PALLET PLACE, LLC

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $3,170 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 1910.9(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:      This violation occurred in the pallet production areas of The Pallet Place, LLC facility where the employer had not administered a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise that had exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA, based on an 80 db threshold:    a) A saw operator working on the KM-16 saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.3% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 84.3% is approximately 88.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 382 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  98 minutes not sampled;     b) A saw operator working on a saw conveyor was exposed to continuous noise levels at 73.3% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 73.3% is approximately 87.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 381 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  99 minutes not sampled;    c)A saw operator working on a two head saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.7% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 79.7% is approximately 88.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 377 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  103 minutes not sampled;    d)A saw operator working on a five head saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 113.8% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 113.8% is approximately 90.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 373 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  107 minutes not sampled;    e) A saw operator working on a five head saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 87.1% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 87.1% is approximately 89 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 375 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  105 minutes not sampled;    f) A pallet assembler in station 1 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 243.4% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 243.4% is approximately 96.4 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 403 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  77 minutes not sampled;    g) A pallet assembler in station 2 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 338.8% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 338.8% is approximately 98.8 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 399 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the  81 minutes not sampled;    h) A pallet assembler in station 4 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 268.1% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 268.1% is approximately 97.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 397 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 83 minutes not sampled;    i) A pallet assembler in station 6 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 337.6% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 337.6% is approximately 98.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 391 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 89 minutes not sampled;    j) A pallet assembler in station 8 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 335.8% of the permissible 8-hour TWA.  The equivalent level of 335.8% is approximately 98.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 395 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 85 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $3,170 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9015

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)In the pallet production area of The Pallet Place, LLC facility where the employer did not have a written hazard communication program in place and one employee used paint containing hazardous components such as Cristobalite and 1,2-Benzisothiazolone.  Employees were exposed to organ damage and allergic skin reaction.

Issued

Feb 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $726 · Current $500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9015

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    (a) In the pallet production areas where the employer had not provided employees, who had been given dust masks to wear on a voluntary basis, the information in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134 which provided information to employees so that certain precautions were taken to ensure that the respirator itself did not present a hazard.