OSHA Inspection: PELLET AMERICA CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Dec 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $3,822 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment:  At a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; the employer did not administer a continuing and effective hearing conservation program:  a)  On April 29, 2021, an employee supervising the Pellet Mills and Tripping Floor was exposed to noise at 67.7 % of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 90.8 dBA, as measured over 288 minute of sampling.  This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.1 dBA accounting for the period of 192 minutes unmonitored.  b)  On April 29, 2021, an employee operating the Pellet Mills was exposed to noise at 110.4% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 94.9 dBA, as measured over 267 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 90.7 dBA accounting for the period of 213 minutes unmonitored.  All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (m) shall be covered in a hearing conservation program. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:  1)  Noise monitoring 2)  Audiogram testing program 3)  Hearing protectors and attenuation 4)  Employee training 5)  Recordkeeping

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Dec 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1):  The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:   At a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; the employer did not establish an audiometric testing program by making audiometric testing available to an employees whose exposures exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA. An employee supervising the Pellet Mills and Tripping Floor was exposed to noise at an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.1 dBA.

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1):  The employer shall train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:   At a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; the employer did not institute a training program or provide training to each employee exposed to noise above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirement of this section.  All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1) through (k)(3) shall be covered in a hearing conservation training program. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:  1)  Training repeated annually 2)  Effects of noise on hearing 3)  Purpose, fitting, use, care and limitations of hearing protectors 4)  Purpose of audiometric training

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d):  The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  At a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with moving conveyor belts, ingoing nip-points, and rotating parts hazards when they were clearing material from the surfaces of the 70 Line conveyor tunnel downstream of the grinder. The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps prior to allowing them to service/maintain the 70 Line conveyor tunnel. The employee reached into the equipment while the conveyor was energized and operating. The conveyor equipment was not deenergized prior to the employee engaging in servicing/maintenance activity.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving equipment shutdown [1910.147(d)(2)], machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,901 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.   On April 29, 2021 at a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; one or more methods of machine guarding were not provided to protect employees from hazards presented by the ingoing nip points of a conveyor belt on a tail pulley (70 Line) located behind the grinder.

Issued

Oct 15, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i):  Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves:   On April 29, 2021 at a facility located at 2601 W. 2nd Street, Appleton, WI 54914; the projecting shaft ends, with a diameter of 1.5 inches, on a tail-pulley did not present a smooth edge and projected approximately 2.125 inches, which was approximately three times the allowable length without providing guarding by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.