OSHA Inspection: WELTER FOREST PRODUCTS

Issued

May 1, 2020

Abate by

Jun 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.     The employer did not develop, document, and utilize lockout tagout procedures for employees engaged on servicing and maintenance work on equipment including the Morbark Debarker, McDONOUGH Edger, McDONOUGH Head saw,   West Plains Resaw Systems, Inc. Model No. WPRS-ECD, and Morbark Chip-Pac Chipper among others.    Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.

Issued

May 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $12,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.    (a)  On and before February 18, 2020, employees were exposed to unguarded shafting for chain conveyors providing lumber to the McDONOUGH Edger operator.  The shafts were unguarded powering the conveyor chains exposing employees to entanglement and caught-in hazards.    (b)  Employees were exposed entanglement and caught-in hazards on the green chain conveyor that was powered by an unguarded shaft.

Issued

May 1, 2020

Abate by

Jun 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(4)(iv): Elevated walks. All elevated walks, runways, or platforms, if 4 feet or more from the floor level, shall be provided with a standard railing except on loading or unloading sides of platforms. If height exceeds 6 feet, a standard toe board also shall be provided to prevent material from rolling or falling off.    (a)  Employees working on the debarker were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 78 inches or more while greasing, lubricating, oiling, and performing servicing and maintenance work.  Employees accessed the debarker and worked off a platform and elevated walk while exposed to the fall hazards with no form of fall protection.    (b)  A catwalk over the head saw pit utilized to access the McDONOUGH head saw and carriage was not provided standard toe boards when over 6 feet in height with materials stored on the catwalk exposing employees below to potential struck by hazards.

Issued

May 1, 2020

Abate by

Jun 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(d)(4)(iii): Area around barkers. The hazardous area around ring barkers and their conveyors shall be fenced off or posted as a prohibited area for unauthorized persons.    The area around the outdoor mechanical barker and their conveyors were not fenced off or posted to prevent unauthorized employees from accessing danger areas during operation.

Issued

May 1, 2020

Abate by

Jun 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(e)(1)(v): Barriers and warning signs. A barrier shall be provided to prevent employees from entering the space necessary for travel of the carriage, with headblocks fully receded, for the full length and extreme ends of carriage runways. Warning signs shall be posted at possible entry points to this area.    A barrier and warning sign was not provided on the catwalk accessing the head saw to prevent employees from entering the carriage travel area.