OSHA Inspection: WALTERS BROS. LUMBER MFG., INC.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1):  The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  (a) Sawmill; Sawdust accumulation up to approximately 8-inches in depth was found in areas, including but not limited to, floors, electric motors and other equipment around the McDonough Re-Saw, presenting a potential fire and/or explosion hazard.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,563 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D):  Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s):  (a) Throughout the facility; Lockout device(s) used to control energy isolation sources during service and maintenance activities on equipment did not include the identity of the employees who affixed the devices.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 requirements of this standard were being followed:  (a) Throughout the facility; Periodic inspections of energy control procedures were not conducted on at least an annual basis for equipment including, but not limited to, the Morbark Debarker, Cleereman Head Saw, Crosby Edger, Newman 4-Sided Surfacer and McDonough Re-Saw.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D):  Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:  (a)  Sawmill; On or about October 24, 2022, an employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device(s) to the group lockout device(s) prior to performing servicing and/or maintenance work on the Cleereman Head Saw.  (b)  Sawmill; On or about November 4, 2022, an employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device(s) to the group lockout device(s) prior to performing servicing and/or maintenance work on the Crosby Edger.  (c)  Debarker; On or about October 17, 2022, an employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device(s) to the group lockout device(s) prior to performing servicing and/or maintenance work on the Morbark Debarker rollcase conveyor.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1):  Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition was not taken out of service, and/or repairs were not made by authorized personnel:  (a)  Pallet Plant; A Mitsubishi model FG18 type LP forklift was operated without a functioning audible signaling device.   (b)  Pallet Plant; On or about November 1, 2022, a Mitsubishi model FGC25 type LP forklift was operated without functioning audible and visual signaling devices.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i):  Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  (a) Debarker; A driveshaft end for the Morbark Debarker rollcase conveyor projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18)(i):  Pulley(s), sprocket(s), sheave(s), drum(s) and block(s) of conveyor(s) were not arranged to prevent the possibility of injury due to hands or parts of clothing being caught between the belt(s) and pulley(s) or chain(s) and sprocket(s):  (a) Debarker; Chains and sprockets on the Morbark model C-24 Debarker rollcase conveyor were not properly guarded.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,750 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.:  (a) Debarker; A compressed air blow gun used to clean the cutterhead and other equipment was operated with an airline pressure exceeding 30 p.s.i.  (b) Pallet Plant; A compressed air blow gun used to clean the knife sharpening machine was operated with an airline pressure exceeding 30 p.s.i.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,812 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(6)(i):  Emergency exit doors opened directly on or blocked a flight of stairs, and/or did not swing in the direction of exit travel:  (a) Sawmill; A designated emergency exit door located at the south end of the building did not swing in the outward direction of exit travel.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,812 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(ii):  In locations where electric equipment was likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards were not so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage:  (a) Pallet Plant; A fluorescent light fixture, located approximately 75-inches above the floor in the Newman 4-sided surfacer room, was not sufficiently protected against physical damage.

Issued

Feb 8, 2023

Abate by

Mar 2, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,812 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii):  Unused openings in boxes, cabinets, or fittings were not effectively closed:  (a) Debarker; On the wall located inside of the operator's cab of the Morbark Debarker, two unused openings of a four-plug electrical outlet, were not effectively closed, exposing live inner conductors.