OSHA Inspection: GENERAL PALLETS, INC.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,387 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  For the employees working in the shop milling lumber and assembling pallets on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not develop and implement a noise monitoring program for employees exposed to occupational noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted-average (TWA) of 85 decibels.  This exposes employees to potential hearing loss.  a) One Trim Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 218% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 218% is approximately 93.62 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 482 minutes for one shift.  b) One Single Head Band Re-Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.1% of the permissible 8 TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 79.1% is approximately 86.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes for one shift.  c) One Double Head Notching Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 245% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 245% is approximately 94.46 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  d) One PECO Pallet Repair Temporary Employee from CFSI Employment Services was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.1% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 84.1% is approximately 86.75 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 454 minutes for one shift.  e) One #1 Rayco Edge Pallet Nailer Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 96.5% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 96.5% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes for one shift.  f) One Manual Pallet Assembler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 112.3% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 112.3% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  g)  One Rayco Double Sided Pallet Nailing Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 93.8% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 93.8% is approximately 87.53 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 438 minutes for one shift.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :  For the employees working in the shop milling lumber and assembling pallets on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide baseline and annual audiograms for employees exposed to occupational noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted-average (TWA) of 85 decibels.  This exposes employees to potential hearing loss.   a) One Trim Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 218% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 218% is approximately 93.62 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 482 minutes for one shift.  b) One Single Head Band Re-Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.1% of the permissible 8 TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 79.1% is approximately 86.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes for one shift.  c) One Double Head Notching Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 245% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 245% is approximately 94.46 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  d) One PECO Pallet Repair Temporary Employee from CFSI Employment Services was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.1% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 84.1% is approximately 86.75 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 454 minutes for one shift.  e) One #1 Rayco Edge Pallet Nailer Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 96.5% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 96.5% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes for one shift.  f) One Manual Pallet Assembler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 112.3% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 112.3% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  g)  One Rayco Double Sided Pallet Nailing Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 93.8% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 93.8% is approximately 87.53 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 438 minutes for one shift.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:  For the employees working in the shop milling lumber and assembling pallets on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer provided only two (2) types of in ear hearing protectors for employees exposed to occupational noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted-average (TWA) of 85 decibels.  This exposes employees to potential hearing loss.  a) One Trim Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 218% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 218% is approximately 93.62 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 482 minutes for one shift.  b) One Single Head Band Re-Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.1% of the permissible 8 TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 79.1% is approximately 86.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes for one shift.  c) One Double Head Notching Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 245% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 245% is approximately 94.46 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  d) One PECO Pallet Repair Temporary Employee from CFSI Employment Services was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.1% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 84.1% is approximately 86.75 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 454 minutes for one shift.  e) One #1 Rayco Edge Pallet Nailer Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 96.5% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 96.5% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes for one shift.  f) One Manual Pallet Assembler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 112.3% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 112.3% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  g)  One Rayco Double Sided Pallet Nailing Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 93.8% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 93.8% is approximately 87.53 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 438 minutes for one shift.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(4): The employer did not provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees:  For the employees working in the shop milling lumber and assembling pallets on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide training in the use and care of hearing protector for employees exposed to occupational noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted-average (TWA) of 85 decibels.  This exposes employees to potential hearing loss.   a) One Trim Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 218% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 218% is approximately 93.62 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 482 minutes for one shift.  b) One Single Head Band Re-Saw Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.1% of the permissible 8 TWA.  The equivalent dBA level of 79.1% is approximately 86.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes for one shift.  c) One Double Head Notching Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 245% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 245% is approximately 94.46 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  d) One PECO Pallet Repair Temporary Employee from CFSI Employment Services was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.1% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA of 84.1% is approximately 86.75 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 454 minutes for one shift.  e) One #1 Rayco Edge Pallet Nailer Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 96.5% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 96.5% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes for one shift.  f) One Manual Pallet Assembler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 112.3% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 112.3% is approximately 88.84 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 423 minutes for one shift.  g)  One Rayco Double Sided Pallet Nailing Operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 93.8% of the permissible 8 hour TWA.  The equivalent dBA for 93.8% is approximately 87.53 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 438 minutes for one shift.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,304 · Current $3,182 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(d)(7)(iv)(d): Container was located so as be subject to vehicular damage, or was not adequately protected against such damage.  For the employees filling propane tanks from the outside bulk storage tank and loading and unloading trucks on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer located the propane storage tank in the area of the loading dock with no protection from vehicular traffic.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,978 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(a)(9): All belts, pulleys, gears, shafts, and moving parts were not guarded in accordance with the specific requirements of 1910.219:  For the employees working around the 5 blade cut to length saw material transfer deck on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto,  The employer did not guard the in-running chain and sprocket on the loading side of the deck.  This exposes employees to the hazard of being caught in the chain and sprocket.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $3,978 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.213(i)(1): Non-working portion(s) of the blade of bandsaw(s) were not enclosed or guarded:  (a) For the employee operating the horizontal Band Re-Saw on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not guard the unused portion of the band saw blade.  This exposes employees to the hazard of amputation from contact with the blade.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:  For the employees performing tasks such as, but not limited to, handling lumber, filling propane tanks, and operating pneumatic nail guns on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not certify in writing that a hazard assessment of the workplace had been conducted.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to hazardous condition(s)  (a)  For the employees refueling the forklift propane tanks from the bulk propane tank located at the southwest corner of the facility by the loading dock on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide appropriate gloves to protect the employee's hands from freeze burn hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection:   For the employees performing maintenance activities that require lockout/tagout procedures to be used on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer did not certify that periodic inspection of energy control procedures were conducted on machines;  a)  #1 Rayco Pallet Nailer   b)  Rayco Double sided pallet nailer  c)  Double headed notcher  d)  5 blade cut to length saw  e)   Holtec package saw

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv): The employer did not certify that employee training had been accomplished and kept up to date:  For the employees performing maintenance requiring the use of lockout or tagout on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto on equipment that are not cord and plug and/or have multiple energy sources, the employer did not certify that maintenance personnel had been provided updated training on the equipment after being installed at the new facility.   a)  #1 Rayco Pallet Nailer   b)  Rayco Double sided pallet nailer  c)  Double headed notcher  d)  5 blade cut to length saw  e)   Holtec package saw

Issued

Jun 6, 2019

Abate by

Jun 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance was not being conducted at least once every three years:  For the employees authorized to operate forklifts on or about February 11, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer's last record of training forklift operators was approximately four (4) years prior.