OSHA Inspection: STRUCTURAL WOOD SYSTEMS, INC.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 91309135E200M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms and walking-working surfaces were not kept clean, orderly and in sanitary condition.  a) Woodworking shop area: On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to fire and explosion hazard by failing to maintain a housekeeping program in that there was combustible saw dust accumulations on equipment and floor ranging from 1/32 of an inch to 1 foot in depth that had a Kst value of 15.14 bar meters per second, a class II dust, and explosion severity of 1.01 with a 8.9 percent moisture content.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Mar 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 91309135E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(20)(i): The employer did not ensure that the dust collection system design, construction, and maintenance to include the blower collecting, and exhaust systems were designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with American National Standards Z33.1-1961 (For the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock, and Vapor Removal or Conveying) and Z12.2-1962 (R1969) (Code for the Prevention of Dust Explosion in Woodworking and Wood Flour Manufacturing Plants), which are incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.:   a)     Wood Dust Collection System:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that all ducts were tightly closed on the big planer duct branch exposing employees to fire and combustible dust explosion hazards.      b)     Wood Dust Collection System:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that the exhausting fan was on the clean air side of the dust collection hopper/silo exposing employees to fire and combustible dust explosion hazards.     c)      Wood Dust Collection System:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that explosion relief vents were provided for the duct systems exposing employees to fire and combustible dust explosion hazards.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,691 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9211X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:  a)     Wood Dust Collection Hopper:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that a written permit confined space program was available and fully implemented on site while employees were conducting job tasks in a permitted confined space.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 91309135X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C): Employees entered into permit spaces that met the conditions set forth in 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(i) but before an employee entered the space, the internal atmosphere was not tested with a calibrated direct-reading instrument:   a)     Wood Dust Collection Hopper:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that atmospheric monitoring was conducted before employees were performing job tasks in a permitted confined space entry of the dust collection hopper/silo.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 91309135X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(H): Employees entered into permit spaces that met the conditions set forth in 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(i), but the employer did not verify that the space was safe for entry and that the measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii):   a)     Wood Dust Collection Hopper:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to health hazards from failing to verify that the permit required confined space was safe before entry by all requirements of the standard.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 91309135X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(4): The employer's certification of the training required by 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1) through 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(3) did not contain each employee's name, the signatures or initials of the trainers, and the dates of the training:  a)     Wood Dust Collection Hopper:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to inhalation and fire hazards from entering a confined space without certification of training on permit confined space program.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,536 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.  a)  Lame/Glue application conveyor system:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, employees were exposed to amputation and caught-by hazards from motorized roller conveyor table number 3 that did not have a guard over a 1 inch rotating roller shaft.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,536 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18)(i):  Means were not provided to guard against accidental injury to personnel at conveyor transfer, loading, or discharge point(s):   a)      Lame/Glue application conveyor system:  On or about April 17, 2018 and at times prior to, employees were exposed to amputation and struck by hazards from a 4 motorized belt roller conveyor tables and 3 non-motorized roller conveyor tables that did not have a guard system in place to prevent employees from walking in between tables while wood beams were being conveyed.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 91309135E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:   a)    40 amp Masser electrical box : On or about April 18, 2018 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical burns, shock and fire hazards from a 480 volt electrical box that was not effectively closed.    b)    480 volt Westinghouse electrical box closest to east wall of building: On or about April 18, 2018 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical burns, shock and fire hazards from a 480 volt electrical box that was not effectively closed.    c)    480 volt Westinghouse electrical box closest to west wall of building: On or about April 18, 2018 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical burns, shock and fire hazards from a 480 volt electrical box that was not effectively closed.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,268 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(5)(ii): Stairways were not provided with a standard handrail on at least one side or on any open side:  a)  Dust hopper top entry stairs:   On or about April 17, 2018 and time prior to the employer exposed employee(s) to fall hazards up to 5.5 feet  in that the fixed stair system did not have standard mid railing.  b)  Dust hopper bottom entry stairs:   On or about April 17, 2018 and time prior to the employer exposed employee(s) to fall hazards up to 3.8 feet in that the fixed stair system did not have standard mid railing on one side and standard railing on the other side.  c)  Glue mixing area north stair:   On or about April 17, 2018 and time prior to the employer exposed employee(s) to fall hazards up to 8 feet in that the fixed stair system did not have standard mid railing.  d)  Glue mixing area east stair:   On or about April 17, 2018 and time prior to the employer exposed employee(s) to fall hazards up to 8 feet in that the fixed stair system did not have standard mid railing.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(c)(1): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeded 0.75 parts per million, as an 8-hour time weighted average:   a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde vapors at an 8 hour calculated Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 1.282 parts per million (ppm) which is  1.72 times the 8 hour time weighted average OSHA PEL of 0.750 parts per million of air  while conducting glue mixing job tasks. Results were calculated for a 417 minute sampling period.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(c)(2): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeded two parts per million as a 15-minute short term exposure limit (STEL):  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde vapors at a 15 minute calculated Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 4.7205 parts per million (ppm) which is  2.36 times the OSHA STEL of 2.00 parts per million of air  while conducting glue mixing job tasks. Results were calculated for a 12 minute sampling period with the remaining time of 3 minutes at a zero concentration.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(g)(1): For employees who used respirators required by 29 CFR 1910.1048, the employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde vapor above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and was not provided with the appropriate respirator.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(g)(2)(i): The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii), (d)(3)(iii)(B)(1), and (d)(2)) and (f) through (m), which covers each employee required by 29 CFR 1910.1048 to use a respirator:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to Formaldehyde vapor above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and did not implement a respiratory protection program as required by the respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(e)(1)(i): The employer did not establish regulated areas where the concentration of airborne formaldehyde exceeded either the TWA or the STEL and/or did not post all entrances and access ways with signs as required.   a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer failed to establish regulated areas with appropriate signage for employees exposed to Formaldehyde above the 8 hour time weighted average OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit while conducting glue mixing job tasks.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(f)(1): Engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to formaldehyde at or below the TWA and the STEL:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and the employers engineering controls in place did not maintain the formaldehyde levels below as required by the standard.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(h)(1)(i): All contact of the eyes and skin with liquids containing 1 percent or more formaldehyde was not prevented by the use of chemical protective clothing made of material impervious to formaldehyde and the use of other personal protective equipment such as goggles and face shields, as appropriate to the operation:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 09, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer failed to ensure impervious chemical protective clothing was worn for an employee that was exposed to Formaldehyde vapors above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and wears work clothing home.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(h)(2)(iv): The employer did not ensure that no employee took home equipment or clothing that was contaminated with formaldehyde:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 09, 2018 and at times prior to, the employer failed to ensure work clothing or equipment was not taken home for an employee that was exposed to Formaldehyde vapors above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and contaminated with formaldehyde.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(l)(1)(i): The employer did not institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL:  a) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde vapors above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and the employer had not instituted a medical surveillance program.

Issued

Sep 7, 2018

Abate by

Sep 17, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 129092109211

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) Glue Mixing Area:  On or about May 9, 2018 and at times prior to, an employee was exposed to Formaldehyde vapor above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit and the OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit and was required to wear a filtering facepiece respirator and the employer did not ensure a medical evaluation was performed.