OSHA Inspection: ILLINOIS PALLETS, INC

Issued

Jun 13, 2018

Abate by

Jul 10, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $2,587 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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:    An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by Illinois Pallets Inc.    a. An employee in the work area operating a nail gun assembling pallets was exposed to continuous noise levels at 171.5% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 171.5% is approximately 93.9 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 325 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 155 minutes.    b. An employee in the work area operating a chop saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 210% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 210% is approximately 95.4 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 338 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 142 minutes.    c. An employee in the work area operating a pallet dismantler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 218% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 218% is approximately 95.6 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 326 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 154 minutes.    d. An employee in the work area operating the large resaw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 66.1% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 66.1 is approximately 87.0 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 331 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 149 minutes.    e. An employee in the work area operating a resaw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 71% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 71% is approximately 87.5 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 340 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 140 minutes.    f.  An employee in the work area operating a resaw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 105.5% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 105.5% is approximately 90.4 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 339 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 141 minutes.    g. An employee in the work area operating a nail gun assembling pallets was exposed to continuous noise levels at 88.9% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 88.9% is approximately 89.2 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 324 minutes during one shift on April 3, 2018.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 156 minutes.

Issued

Jun 13, 2018

Abate by

Jul 10, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $1,108 Reduced

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. On or about March 3, 2018, in the workplace, employees were provided half mask respirators but were not medically evaluated or trained in a respirator program. The employer did not establish and implemental written respirator program.

Issued

Jun 13, 2018

Abate by

Jul 10, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:   a. On or about March 20, 2018, in the workplace, the employer did not complete a written certification of the personal protective equipment assessment.

Issued

Jun 13, 2018

Abate by

Jul 10, 2018

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) On or about March 20, 2018, the employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:    1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Training of employees; 4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace; 5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards on non-routine tasks; and 6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.    Employees were required to work with wood dust.

Issued

Jun 13, 2018

Abate by

Jul 10, 2018

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. On or about March 20, 2018, in the work area, employees worked with wood for pallets. The employer did not ensure that the employees were trained in the hazards associated with chemicals such as, but not limited to, wood dust.