OSHA Inspection: EMPIRE LUMBER COMPANY

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $9,054

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:      a) Facility: On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto the energy control program established by the employer did not include an effective periodic inspection of the program and procedures. This includes, but may not be limited to procedures and operators for the green J-bar sorter.        Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance:     a) Facility: On June 7, 2108 and at times prior thereto the written procedures for energy control did not clearly identify rules and techniques needed for energy control.  Discrepancies include, but may not be limited to, motor control center (MCC) panels not labeled or mis-labeled, contradictory directions in written procedures, location of start/stop buttons not identified to ensure the lock-out was complete.  These discrepancies were noted on, but may not be limited to, the green J-bar sorter.      b) Facility:  On June 7, 2018 and a time prior thereto, written procedures did not include adequately address the control of hydraulic energy for the green J-bar sorter/stacker.     c) Facility:  On June 7, 2018 and a time prior thereto, written procedures did not include adequately address the control of pneumatic energy for the green J-bar sorter/stacker.      Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(B): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to correct any deviations or inadequacies identified:    a) Facility: On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto the periodic inspection performed by the employer was not adequate and did not identify discrepancies in the written procedures for energy control.  Discrepancies include, but may not be limited to, panels not labeled or labeled incorrectly, conflicting information in the procedures posted at the machine, conflicting information between the master lock out book and the procedures posted at the machine.  This includes but may not be limited to the motor control center #1 for the J-bar sorter.           Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(C): Where lockout was used for energy control, the periodic inspection did not include a review, between the inspector and each authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under the energy control procedure being inspected:    a) Facility: On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto, the periodic review in the form of the annual training session did not address individual employee responsibilities on specific machines or equipment that they would service or maintain in the workplace.  This includes but may not be limited to, the operators of the J-bar sorter machine.      Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Sep 24, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(26)(iv): Every manually operated control switch was not properly identified and so located as to be readily accessible to the operator:    a) J-Bar Sorter: On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto the labeling on the control panel was unreadable.  This included but was not limited to, the manual switch for the transfer chains automatic and manual mode.       Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Sep 10, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):    a) Green J-Bar Sorter: On June 7, 2018 and at times thereto, a warning sign for "Restricted Area Authorized Personnel Only" was not posted on the catwalk near the descrambler in-feed deck.  When in this hazardous area, employees are subject to a struck-by hazard from lumber moving forward to the descrambler.      Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Oct 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,935 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii): The periodic inspection certification of energy control procedures did not contain the required documentation on identification of the machine or equipment, inspection date, employees included, and the person performing the inspection:     a) Facility:  On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto certification of a periodic inspection of the energy control program and procedures, in the form of the annual training sessions, did not identify any machines or equipment that employees are actually operating, servicing or maintaining.  This includes but may not be limited to the green J-bar sorter.         Empire Lumber Company, Weippe Operations was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard which was contained in OSHA inspection number 984485, citation number 1, item number 3c and was affirmed as a final order on December 18, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 206 East 6th Street, Weippe, ID 83553.     Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Sep 24, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $9,054

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(2): An orderly shutdown of machine or equipment was not utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazards to employees as a result of equipment stoppage:  a) Facility: On June 7, 2018 and at times prior thereto, the equipment was not shut down in order to perform unplanned maintenance on the J-Bar sorter.  The written procedures for the control of hazardous energy prior to maintenance and servicing of machines or equipment did not identify actions needed for an orderly shut-down.  This includes, but may not be limited to, placing the associated control panel switches to off or manual.  As well as the purpose and the order in which a barrier chain is to be taken down from a hazardous areas identified for authorized personnel only.    Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.

Issued

Aug 28, 2018

Abate by

Sep 24, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  a) Green J-Bar Sorter: On June 6, 2018 and at times prior thereto the energy for the descrambler, descrambler in-feed chain and photo eye were not shut off and the energy properly isolated prior to an employee attempting to perform unscheduled maintenance on the J-bar sorter.    Note) Certification and documentation of corrective actions are required for this item.