OSHA Inspection: PATZ PALLET SERVICE A DIVISION OF MPD PALLET ACQUISITION CO. LLC

Issued

Mar 1, 2022

Abate by

Mar 29, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,781 · Current $5,425 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 November 15, 2021, at a facility located at N4158 19th Road, Pound, WI 54161; one or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect employees from hazards presented by:  a) The Trim Saw loader (vertical lifter table) ingoing nips-points where the chain conveyor contacted a sprocket at the near the ground adjacent to the Trim Saw operator's position.   b) The Trim Saw feeder (horizontal conveyor table) ingoing nip-points where the chain conveyor contacted a sprocket at the underside of the table adjacent to the Trim Saw operator's position.  c) The Trim Saw loader (vertical lifter table) and feeder (horizontal conveyor table) ingoing nip-points where the chain conveyors contacted sprockets under each table on the side of the equipment opposite of the operator's position.  d) The ingoing nip-point  of the belt conveyor receiving pieces from the Trim Saw's belt conveyor where the underside of the conveyor belt contacted the head pulley.  e)  The ingoing nip-point and caught-in hazards of the chain conveyors of the Viking Turbo 505 Silver Edition at the QC position.

Issued

Mar 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,068 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1):  Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.  On November 15, 2021, at a facility located at N4158 19th Road, Pound, WI 54161; the employer did not provide sufficient access and working space to a circuit breaker electrical panel located in the build shop behind Machine #2. An industrial fan/blower mounted on a stand was stored in front of the breaker panel and did not provide at least three feet of clear working space as required.

Issued

Mar 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,424 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(i):  Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) shall be visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket). Cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) which remain connected once they are put in place and are not exposed to damage need not be visually inspected until they are relocated.   On November 15, 2021, at a facility located at N4158 19th Road, Pound, WI 54161; inside of the Cut Shop, the employer did not ensure that flexible cords were inspected prior to the start of each shift. The outer jacket of a flexible cord in use at the Cut Shop was observed to be damaged, exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Mar 1, 2022

Abate by

Mar 29, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(1)(i):  Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings shall be protected from abrasion, and openings through which conductors enter shall be effectively closed:  On November 15, 2021, at a facility located at N4158 19th Road, Pound, WI 54161; the employer did not ensure that the conductors that entered boxes were protected from abrasion and that the openings through which conductors entered were effectively closed when:  a)  In the Build Shop, conductors entered an electrical box of the motor of an exhaust fan mounted on the west wall in the build shop.  b)  In the Build Shop, conductors entered an electrical box of a control module on the Viking Turbo 505 in the conveyor between Machine #1 and Machine #2.  c)  In the Cut Shop, conductors entered an electrical box of motor at the Trim Saw.

Issued

Mar 1, 2022

Abate by

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $15,954 · Current $7,477 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3):  Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided:  On November 15, 2021, at a facility located at N4158 19th Road, Pound, WI 54161; the employer did not enclose chains and sprockets less than seven feet above the floor or platforms at multiple positions along the Viking Turbo 505 Silver Edition machine located in the Build Shop:  a)  At the Machine 1 position, behind an unsecured metal mesh guard below the loading bed, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards presented by the chain of the conveyor system.  b)  At the Machine 1 position, on the opposite side of the operator's position under the nailing portion of the equipment, employees were exposed to ingoing nip points presented by the chain and head sprocket of the loading bed conveyor.  c)  At the Machine 2 position, below the conveyor area leading to Machine 2, employees were exposed to caught-in and ingoing nip points presented by the chains and take-up sprockets of the conveyor.  d)  At the Machine 2 position, at the operator's position under the nailing portion of the equipment immediately adjacent to the machine's adjustment controls, employees were exposed to caught-in hazards presented by the chain of the conveyor.  The Patz Pallet Service a Division of MPD Pallet Acquisition Co. LLC was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1492769, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on October 23, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at N4158 19th Rd, Pound, WI 54161.