OSHA Inspection: HMM PALLETS PROPERTY LLC DBA HMM PALLETS, INC.

Issued

Aug 19, 2022

Abate by

Oct 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $4,144

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by HMM Pallets Property LLC.  a) An employee in the chop saw area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 541.7% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 541.7% is approximately 102.1 dBA. The sampling was performed for 438 minutes during one 8 hour work shift on June 6, 2022. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 42 minutes. The hearing conservation action level was established to prevent permanent loss of hearing.   b) An employee in the chop saw area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 447.9% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 447.9% is approximately 100 dBA. The sampling was performed for 431 minutes during one 8 hour work shift on June 6, 2022. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 49 minutes. The hearing conservation action level was established to prevent permanent loss of hearing.  c) An employee in the chop saw area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 134.2% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 134.2% is approximately 92.1 dBA. The sampling was performed for 434 minutes during one 8 hour work shift on June 6, 2022. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 46 minutes. The hearing conservation action level was established to prevent permanent loss of hearing.   d) An employee in the pallet dismantling area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 316.7% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 316.7% is approximately 98.3 dBA. The sampling was performed for 433 minutes during one 8 hour work shift on June 6, 2022. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 47 minutes. The hearing conservation action level was established to prevent permanent loss of hearing.  e) An employee in the pallet making area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.7% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 114.7% is approximately 91 dBA. The sampling was performed for 428 minutes during one 8 h our work shift on June 6, 2022. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 52 minutes. The hearing conservation action level was established to prevent permanent loss of hearing.

Issued

Aug 19, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9211

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).  a) Shop - On or about June 6, 2022, the employer permitted two employees to use 3M 6000 series half facepiece respirators during pallet making and resaw activities. The employer failed to ensure the employees were medically fit to wear the respirators and that they were being cleaned, stored, and maintained so that there use did not create additional health hazards.

Issued

Aug 19, 2022

Abate by

Sep 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9211

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  a) Shop - On or about June 6, 2022, the employer permitted two employees to use 3M 6000 series half facepiece respirators during pallet making and resaw activities.  The employer failed to provide information contained in 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"), thereby, exposing the employees to health hazards related to respirator misuse.