OSHA Inspection: SPRING VALLEY MILLWORK, INC.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to combustible dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards from accumulations of combustible wood dust:   a) Cut Shop - The employer did not provide for effective capture and control of combustible wood dust generated during the operation of woodworking equipment, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Facility-Wide - The dust collection system was not bonded and grounded to prevent static electrical energy accumulation, on or about February 16, 2022.   c) Facility-Wide - The dust collection system was not equipped with fire protection, such as spark detection or fire suppression equipment, on or about February 16, 2022.  d) Facility-Wide - The employer failed to have separator devices to remove foreign materials capable of igniting combustible dusts, on or about February 16, 2022.  e) Facility-Wide - Ductwork leading into and out of the cyclone dust collector which posed a fire/deflagration hazard, lacked fire/deflagration isolation devices to prevent a fire/deflagration in the collector from traveling back into the building and work areas, on or about February 16, 2022.  f) Facility-Wide - The employer failed to conduct a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) to identify and document the equipment and areas of the facility where dust fire and explosion hazards exist, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms and walking-working surfaces were not kept clean, orderly and in sanitary condition:  a) Cut Shop - Substantial amounts of combustible wood dust had accumulated on surfaces including but not limited to, overhead pipes, ductwork and conduit, steel beams, masonry walls, and the vertical and horizontal surfaces of saws and conveyors, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(2): The floor of a workroom was not maintained in a clean condition:  a) Cut Shop - Substantial amounts of combustible wood dust had accumulated on the floor, exposing employees to a fire hazard, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(b): Areas designated as hazardous (classified) locations under the Class and Zone system and areas designated under the Class and Division system established after August 13, 2007 were not properly documented:  a) Cut Shop - The cut shop room contains combustible wood dust and the employer failed to document the room as a hazardous (classified) location, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

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. Neither was the equipment approved for the class of location and for the ignitable or combustible properties of the specific gas, vapor, dust or fiber that would be present:  a) Cut Shop - General purpose electrical fixtures, conduit and wiring methods were used and installed in a Class II Division 1 location, on or about February 16, 2022. The electrical fixtures, conduit and wiring methods were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or the safe for hazardous (classified) location.  b) Cut Shop - A Siemens General Duty Safety Switch (60A, 240VAC) was used and installed in a Class II Division 1 location, on or about February 16, 2022. The safety switch was not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or the safe for hazardous (classified) location.  c) Cut Shop - A WEG general purpose electric motor (208-230/460VAC) was used and installed in a Class II Division 1 location, on or about February 16, 2022. The motor was not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or the safe for hazardous (classified) location.  d) Cut Shop - An AFS Dust Collection Systems electrical control panel (480VAC) was used and installed in a Class II Division 1 location, on or about February 16, 2022. The control panel was not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or the safe for hazardous (classified) location.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,315 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:   a) Facility-Wide - The employer provided portable fire extinguishers but did not permit employee use and did not develop emergency action and fire prevention plans, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $2,486 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee, who wore prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involved eye hazards, used protection that incorporated the prescription in its design, or wore eye protection over the prescription glasses or protective lenses with side shields:  a) Cut Shop - An employee was observed operating a Northtech UpCut saw while wearing prescription glasses that were not impact rated and did not have side shields to protect his eyes from sawdust and wood chips,  on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:   a) Facility-Wide - The employer provides employees with eye protection and has not drafted and certified a written personal protective equipment hazard assessment, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(c)(1): Circular hand-fed ripsaw(s) were not guarded by an automatically adjusting hood, which completely enclosed that portion of the saw above the table and above the material being cut:  a) Cut Shop - Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards and flying debris while operating a Powermatic table saw that did not have a guard to protect the employees from the exposed cutting blade, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Tile Room - Employees were exposed to struck-by hazards and flying debris while operating a Delta Industrial table saw that did not have a guard to protect the employees from the exposed cutting blade, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(c)(3): Each hand-fed circular ripsaw was not provided with non-kickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator:  a) Cut Shop - Employees were exposed to being struck-by boards while operating a Powermatic table saw that did not have non-kickback fingers or dogs installed, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Tile Room - Employees were exposed to being struck-by boards while operating a Delta Industrial table saw that did not have non-kickback fingers or dogs installed, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(r)(4): Suitable guard(s) were not provided to reduce to a minimum the hazard due to the point of operation of an up cut saw:  a) Cut Shop - The employer did not ensure that a Northtech Up Cut saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 06043) was adequately guarded at the point of operation to prevent employees from inadvertently contacting the rotating blade exposing employees to laceration and amputation hazards while using the equipment, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Cut Shop - The employer did not ensure that a Northtech up cut saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 050825) was adequately guarded at the point of operation to prevent employees from inadvertently contacting the rotating blade exposing employees to laceration and amputation hazards while using the equipment, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,315 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i., nor was effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment used:    a) Cut Shop - Compressed air nozzles used to remove wood dust from the Northtech UpCut saws was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and was not equipped with a relief device to reduce the air pressure to less than 30 p.s.i. if the nozzle was dead-ended, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Cut Shop - Compressed air nozzles were used to remove wood dust from employees skin and clothing, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(1)(ii): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards, based on the mechanical strength and durability, including, for parts designed to enclose and protect other equipment, the adequacy of the protection thus provided:  a) Cut Shop - At the grinder conveyor belt control panel, the metal conduit was separated from the electrical box exposing the energized conductors, on or about February 16, 2022.  No abatement�certification or�documentation required.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,315 · Current $2,000 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) Tile Shop - A Siemens disconnect switch was blocked by permanent storage and a Delta Industrial Unisaw, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards including combustible dust as well as hazards not otherwise classified in the workplace:   a) Facility-Wide - Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards without having been trained on the physical and health hazards of the combustible dust in their work area, on or about February 16, 2022.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after 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

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):   a) Cut Shop,  Northtech Up Cut Saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 06043) - A manufacturer's label reading "DANGER, KEEP HANDS CLEAR" was missing from the hold-down clamp of a Northtech Up Cut saw, on or about February 16, 2022.  b) Cut Shop, Northtech Up Cut Saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 06043)- A manufacturer's label reading "WARNING, Rotating blade hazard, Do NOT operate with guard removed, Lockout/tagout before servicing" was missing from the cabinet of a Northtech Up Cut saw, on or about February 16, 2022.  c) Cut Shop, Northtech Up Cut Saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 06043) - A "DANGER DANGER" sign affixed to the hold-down clamp of a Northtech Up Cut saw was in damaged condition with most letters missing, on or about February 16, 2022.  d) Cut Shop, Northtech Up Cut Saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 050825) - A manufacturer's label reading "DANGER, KEEP HANDS CLEAR" label was missing from the hold-down clamp of a Northtech up cut saw, on or about February 16, 2022.  e) Cut Shop, Northtech Up Cut Saw (Model NT-CS18L-10, Serial Number 050825) - A manufacturer's label reading  "WARNING, Rotating blade hazard, Do NOT operate with guard removed, Lockout/tagout before servicing" label was missing from the cabinet of a Northtech Up Cut saw, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:   a) Cut Shop, Northtech UpCut Saw(s) - On or about February 16, 2022, the employer had not performed annual periodic inspections for the last 15 years on the Northech UpCut Saws to ensure that documented lockout tagout procedures were being followed by authorized employees, thereby exposing employees to the re-energization of equipment and amputation injuries.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jul 18, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

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) Cut Shop - A wooden wedge was placed between the frame and fan cover of a WEG electric motor supplying power to the grinder conveyor, in lieu of being installed and used in accordance with the listing or labeling, on or about February 16, 2022.  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 states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.