OSHA Inspection: COMMERCIAL PALLET, INC.

Issued

Sep 12, 2018

Abate by

Nov 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $2,500 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:    On April 12, 2018, Commercial Pallet, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, did not institute an effective hearing conservation program, which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard, when employee noise exposures were indicated to be at or above the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.    a) On April 12, 2018, a Commercial Pallet, Inc. employee using pallet dismantler #1 located at the southwest corner of building was exposed to continuous noise levels at 421% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 421% is approximately 100.4 dBA. The sampling was performed for 450 minutes during one 8-hour shift on April 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 30 minutes.      b) On April 12, 2018, a Commercial Pallet, Inc. employee using pallet dismantler #2, south central in the shop, and near the southwest corner dismantler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 247.8% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 247.8% is approximately 96.5 dBA. The sampling was performed for 440 minutes during one 8-hour shift on April 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 40 minutes      c) On April 12, 2018, a Commercial Pallet employee using the nail gun at station nearest the central dismantler #2 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 158.9% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 153.9% is approximately 93.3 dBA. The sampling was performed for 454 minutes during one 8-hour shift on April 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 26 minutes.      d) On April 12, 2018, a Commercial Pallet employee operating the chopsaw at the southeast corner of the shop near the yard, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 131.5% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 131.5% is approximately 92.0 dBA. The sampling was performed for 455 minutes during one 8-hour shift on April 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 25 minutes.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 12, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Commercial Pallet, Inc., Chicago, IL- On April 12, 2018,  the employees were not informed of the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, the Respiratory Protection Standard when the employer had Gerson Model 1501 nuisance dust masks available for voluntary use.   In accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).