OSHA Inspection: D&J PALLET SERVICES INC.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces were kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  (a) Upper Building - Combustible wood dust had accumulated on the floor at the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Lower Building - Combustible wood dust had accumulated on the floor at equipment and machinery, including the saw known as Big Red, the notcher, and the 16-inch DeWalt radial arm saw, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.141(a)(3)(i): Places of employment were not kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:  (a) Upper Building - Combustible wood dust had accumulated on surfaces, including the motor, of the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Lower Building - Combustible wood dust had accumulated on building surfaces and on equipment and machinery, including the saw known as Big Red, the notcher, and the work tables at the two DeWalt 10-inch compound miter saws, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(ii): When there was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item was not removed from service until the repairs and tests necessary to render the electrical equipment safe had been made:  (a) Lower Building, South Wall - The power cord for the DeWalt 10-inch compound miter saw had gotten cut, and the employer did not remove the saw from service and have the cord replaced by an authorized service center, as specified in the manufacturer's instruction manual.   Instead, the employer spliced the cord with electrical tape, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:   (a) Upper Building - Employees used the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw to disassemble pallets, and the existing guarding did not fully encase the right bandsaw wheel at the wheel's left and rear sides, exposing employees to the hazard of contacting the moving saw blade and bandsaw wheel, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  (a) Upper Building - The outer jacket had come off in some areas on the nonmetallic-sheathed cable running between the black pallet dismantling horizontal band saw and the east wall of the building, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(2):Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  (a) Upper and Lower Buildings - Both buildings had nonmetallic-sheathed cable that was not installed in accordance with its listing and labeling, including not having the cable concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provided a thermal barrier of material that had at least a 15-minute finish rating and not having the cable protected from physical damage (for example, by rigid metal conduit), exposing employees to electrical and fire hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,862 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:   (a) Upper Building, North Wall - The employer did not maintain sufficient access and working space to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance about electrical equipment, including the three electrical panels, which powered lights, receptacles, and the air compressor, in that stacks of wooden pallets and other materials sat directly in front of the electrical panels, exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Lower Building, South Wall near the Green Pallet Dismantling Horizontal Bandsaw - The employer did not maintain sufficient access and working space to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance about electrical equipment, including the electrical panel, which powered saws and receptacles, in that stacked wood and two horizontally oriented 55-gallon drums for an old heater sat directly in front of this electrical panel,  exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,862 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):  (a) Upper Building, North Wall - Three electrical panels providing power to the building and equipment had no front covers or doors, exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.304(g)(5): The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures was not permanent, continuous, and effective:  (a) Lower Building - Equipment did not have a continuous and effective path to ground in that the conduit, which carried wiring going into the electrical box for starting the notcher on the side of the Jackson 8-inch notcher, separated from the fitting, exposing the conductors, thereby exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,862 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(1): Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  (a) Lower Building, South Wall near the Green Pallet Dismantling Horizontal Bandsaw - The electrical panel box, powering receptacles and saws, had the following openings:   at the top above the breakers, at the top breaker position on the left side, and at the bottom breaker position on the right side, exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,862 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose.  Each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:  (a) Upper Building, South Wall at Building's Western End - A duplex receptacle outlet box, above the work station with the DeWalt portable reciprocating saw, had no cover, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Upper Building, near the Air Compressor - A duplex receptacle outlet box, powering a radio, had no cover, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  (c) Lower Building, South Wall - The duplex receptacle outlet box at the DeWalt 10-inch compound miter saw had duct tape as a cover rather than having a cover approved for the purpose, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  (d) Lower Building, North Wall - The receptacle box at the DeWalt 10-inch compound miter saw had a piece of cardboard as a cover rather than having a cover approved for the purpose, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  (e) Lower Building, Room at the Building's West End - A junction box containing live wiring, on the north wall at the northeast corner of the room, had no cover, exposing employees to electrical hazards, on or about April 12, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv): Flexible cords and cables were used for purposes prohibited by paragraphs (A) through (F) of 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv):   (a) Lower Building - The employer used a flexible yellow cord, instead of fixed wiring, to power the Jackson 8-inch notcher, and this flexible yellow cord ran through a window, exposing employees to electrical and fire hazards, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,575 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:   (a) Lower Building - Employees used saws, including two DeWalt 10-inch compound miter saws to cut wood, which generated wood dust (a Class II combustible dust).  The building had general purpose wiring, receptacles, cords, etc., which were not approved for Class II, Division 2 locations, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,437 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Points of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zones during operating cycles:  (a) Upper Building - Employees used the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw to disassemble pallets, and the saw blade did not have point of operation guarding, exposing employees to the hazard of contacting the moving saw blade, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Lower Building - Employees used the green pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw to disassemble pallets, and the saw blade did not have point of operation guarding, exposing employees to the hazard of contacting the moving saw blade, on or about the week of April 5, 2021.  D & J Pallet Services, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of an equivalent Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1241919, citation number 2, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on October 9, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 80 Foose Ridge Road, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania  17024.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after the abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $5,149 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft ends did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  (a) Upper Building - Employees used the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw to disassemble wooden pallets.  On the front side, the right bandsaw wheel had an unguarded shaft end with a diameter of 1-1/4 inches that projected 1-3/8 inches (rather than projecting 5/8-inch or less), exposing employees to a caught-in rotating parts hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  (b) Upper Building - Employees used the black pallet dismantling horizontal bandsaw to disassemble wooden pallets.  On the rear side,  the guard for the left bandsaw wheel had an opening exposing the band wheel's shaft end, which did not present a smooth edge because this shaft end had an unused keyway, exposing employees to a caught-in rotating parts hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  D & J Pallet Services, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1241919, citation number 1, item number 3, and was affirmed as a final order on October 9, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 80 Foose Ridge Road, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania  17024.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after the abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Sep 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 31, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,724 · Current $968 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(c)(4):  Snap switches mounted in boxes did not have faceplates installed so as to completely cover the opening and seat against the finished surface:  (a) Upper Building, North Wall at Building's West End - A light switch, between the overhead door and personnel door, had a broken faceplate, exposing employees to an electrical hazard, on or about April 12, 2021.  D & J Pallet Services, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.305(c)(4), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1241919, citation number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on October 9, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 80 Foose Ridge Road, Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania  17024.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after the abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.