OSHA Inspection: HICKORY CREEK NURSERY, INC.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 Reduced

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:  a)	On or about April 21, 2021, facility-wide, employees were required to operate powered industrial trucks (PITs) on a daily basis. The employer failed to ensure the performance of each PIT operator was evaluated at least every three years, thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):  a)	On or about April 21, 2021, at the north greenhouse loading dock, the employer failed to remove the powered industrial trucks (PITs) from service when they were found to be in need of repair, thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Aug 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,867 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a) On or about April 21, 2021 and June 2, 2021, facility-wide, the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Training of employees; 4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace; 5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and 6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.  Employees were exposed to chemical hazards including, but not limited to, propane.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Aug 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):  The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  a)	On or about April 21, 2021 and June 2, 2021, facility-wide, employees exposed to chemicals were not aware if SDSs were maintained on site nor provided access to SDSs, thereby exposing employees to chemical hazards including, but not limited to, propane.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a)	On or about April 21, 2021 and June 2, 2021, facility-wide, the employer failed to verify that a certified hazard assessment had been performed, thereby exposing employees to workplace hazards including, but not limited to, propane.

Issued

Jun 21, 2021

Abate by

Jul 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):   a)	On or about April 21, 2021, facility-wide, the employer failed to certify that employees had been trained to operate powered industrial trucks (PITs), thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards.