OSHA Inspection: M.A. FOLKES COMPANY INCORPORATED

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,180 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.  (a)  On or about May 19, 2022, the employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program for employees who were exposed to occupational noise levels between 87.9 decibels (dBA) or  74.8% of the daily dose  and 235% of the daily dose or 96.2 dBA.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(d)(1): When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.  The employer, M. A. Folkes, did not develop and implement a noise exposure monitoring program for employees who operated the Woodpecker Nailing Machine.  (a)  On or about May 19, 2022, the lead operator was exposed to occupational noise at 235% of the daily dose or 96.2 decibels (dBA).  (b)  On or about May 19, 2022, the helper operator was exposed to occupational noise at  74.8% of the daily dose or an 8 hour TWA of 87.9 dBA .

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.   The employer, M. A. Folkes, did not develop an audiometric testing program for employees who operated the Woodpecker Nailing Machine.  (a)  On or about May 19, 2022, the lead operator was exposed to occupational noise at 235% of the daily dose or 96.2 decibels (dBA).   (b)  On or about May 19, 2022, the helper operator was exposed to occupational noise at  74.8% of the daily dose or an 8 hour TWA of 87.9 dBA .

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.  The employer, M. A. Folkes, did not develop a noise exposure training program for employees who operated the Woodpecker Nailing Machine.  (a)  On or about May 19, 2022, the lead operator was exposed to occupational noise at 235 % of the daily dose or 96.2 decibels (dBA).  (b)  On or about May 19, 2022, the helper operator was exposed to occupational noise at  74.8% of the daily dose or an 8 hour TWA of 87.9 dBA .

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(l)(1): The employer shall make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of this standard and shall also post a copy in the workplace.   (a)  On  or about May 19, 2022, the employer did not provide employees who were exposed to occupational noise above 85 decibels (dBA)  with a copy of 29 CFR 1910.95 and did not post a copy in the workplace.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,180 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310811081119135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;  (a)  The employer did not conduct an adequate hazard assessment of the workplace, in that employees were not required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as but not limited to eye and face protection, hearing protection and steel toed safety shoes, to protect them from hazards in the workplace, such as dust, sulfuric acid while adding water to PIT batteries, high noise levels from nailing machines,  and heavy objects like pallets of copy machines.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2310811081119135

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 May 5, 2022, the employer had not certified in writing that a hazard assessment of the workplace had been conducted.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,180 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(1):  Energy control program. The employer shall establish a program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  (a)  On or about May 5, 2022, the employer had not established an energy control program that included energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections for employees who performed duties, such as but not limited to adjusting and reloading,  on the Woodpecker Nailing Machine that required lock out/tag out to be performed.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $2,180 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).   (a)  On or about May 5, 2022, the employer did not have a training and evaluation program in place to train powered industrial truck operators that consisted of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years.   (a)  The employer did not evaluate the performance of each powered industrial truck driver at least once every three years as required by this standard.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6):  Certification. The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.  (a)  The employer, M.A. Folkes, did not complete a written certification of training for each powered industrial truck operator that included the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.

Issued

Aug 15, 2022

Abate by

Sep 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,180 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. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.  (a) On or about May 19, 2022, the employer did not ensure that the chain and sprocket for the Woodpecker Nailing Machine was enclosed.