OSHA Inspection: COVE STAKE & WOOD PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,930 · Current $5,249 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:  a) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - The employer did not institute a continuing effective hearing conservation program when employee noise exposures exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA. An employee designated as a pallet shop laborer was exposed to noise at a level of 100.2% of the allowable limit during a 277 minute sampling period on August 17, 2023. This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 90.0 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 2.0 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.  b) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - An employee designated as a crate shop laborer was exposed to noise at a level of 214% of the allowable limit during a 488 minute sampling period on August 17, 2023. This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 95.5 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 4.3 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.  c) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - An employee designated as a stake shop laborer was exposed to noise at a level of 594.0% of the allowable limit during a 486 minute sampling period on August 17, 2023. This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 102.9 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 11.9 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.  d) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - An employee designated as a stake shop laborer was exposed to noise at a level of 415.5% of the allowable limit during a 486 minute sampling period on August 17, 2023. This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 100.3 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 8.3 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.  e) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - An employee designated as a band shop laborer was exposed to noise at a level of 239.5% of the allowable limit during a 488 minute sampling period on August 17, 2023. This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 96.3 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 4.8 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.  Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.95(c)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1446219, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on February 3, 2020 with respect to a workplace located at 1434 Curryville Road Martinsburg, PA 16662.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(1):The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for all employees whose noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. (See descriptions of employee noise exposures in Citation 1, Item 1a, Instances a-e).   Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.95(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1446219, citation number 1, item number 1c and was affirmed as a final order on February 3, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 1434 Curryville Road Martinsburg, PA 16662.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1):The employer did not 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 29 CFR 1910.95(k).   a) In the facility, on or about August 1, 2023 - The employer did not provide annual noise related training to all employees whose noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  (See descriptions of employee noise exposures in Citation 1, Item 1a, Instances a-e).   ABATEMENT NOTE:  The employer shall ensure that each employee is informed of the following:  a)  The effects of noise on hearing;  b)  The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care; and  c)  The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures.  Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.95(k)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1446219, citation number 1, item number 1d and was affirmed as a final order on February 3, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 1434 Curryville Road Martinsburg, PA 16662.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $251 · Current $251

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - The employer did not provide information and training to employees on the hazardous materials in their work area at the time of their initial assignment. Employees of the facility work with hazardous materials including, but not limited to, fuels, oils, cleaning agents and compressed gases such as oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide.  Cove Stake & Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.1200(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1446219, citation number 2, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on February 3, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 1434 Curryville Road Martinsburg, PA 16662.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Abate by

Nov 22, 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 requirement of this standard were being followed:  a) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of their energy control procedures at least annually in January 2022 or January 2023 per their lockout tagout program.

Issued

Oct 26, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program is understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:  a) In the facility, on or about August 17, 2023 - The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by all employees. Two new employees, designated as Stake shop laborers, were not instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedures before beginning work around energy sources.