OSHA Inspection: HOFFMAN BROTHERS LUMBER INC.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $9,600

General-duty citation text

OSHAct of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards:  (a) Edger - Foot pedals at the Edger, including for lowering the stops at the end of each of the two transfer chain conveyors, to release the next piece of wood to the Edger operator, did not have protection to prevent unintended operation from falling or moving objects or by accidental stepping onto the foot pedal, exposing employees to hazards, including struck by, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

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) Hoffman Brothers Lumber, 118 Sand Valley Road, Richfield, Pennsylvania - The employer did not conduct an annual periodic inspection of lockout/tagout procedures, exposing employees to hazards, such as getting caught-in and struck-by moving machinery, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:   (a) Hoffman Brothers Lumber, 118 Sand Valley Road, Richfield, Pennsylvania - When employees performed servicing and maintenance activities on machinery and equipment, for example, when changing the blade on the Resaw, an authorized employee locked out the electric but did not lockout/tagout other energy sources, including, but not limited to, pneumatic and hydraulic energy, exposing employees to hazards, such as getting caught-in and struck-by moving machinery, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

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) Hoffman Brothers Lumber, 118 Sand Valley Road, Richfield, Pennsylvania - When more than one employee performed servicing and maintenance activities on machinery and equipment, including, but not limited to, when changing the saw blade on the Resaw, only one of the employees affixed a lockout lock, exposing employees to hazards, such as getting caught-in and struck-by moving machinery, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(c)(18)(i): Construction, operation, and maintenance of conveyors was not in accordance with American National Standard B20.1-1957, incorporated by reference as specified in �1910.6, as follows: Safety guards were not provided on all types of equipment at driving mechanisms, terminals and take-ups where the unguarded parts may constitute a hazard to the operating personnel; and means were not provided to guard against accidental injury to personnel at conveyor transfer, loading, or discharge points:  (a) Edger Transfer Chain Conveyors from Resaw and Head Saw - A transfer chain conveyor on the Resaw side of the Edger and a transfer chain conveyor on the Head Saw side of the Edger carried wood to the Edger.  The horizontal shaft and the sprockets and chains at the discharge end of both of these two transfer chain conveyors, where the Edger operator removed the pieces of wood to feed into the Edger, did not have guarding to protect the Edger operator from caught-in and entanglement hazards, on or about October 18, 2023.  (b) Circular Saw and Resaw Outfeed Roll Conveyors - A passageway existed between the roll conveyors on the outfeed side of the Circular Saw and the Resaw.  This passageway ran perpendicular to the direction of travel of the roll conveyors and extended from the aisleway along the building's exterior wall, through the Circular Saw roll conveyors and the Resaw roll conveyors, to the stairway leading up to the elevated walkway.  Nothing restricted access to this passageway while the saws and roll conveyors operated, exposing employees to a struck by hazard, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(e)(1)(v): Warning signs were not posted at possible entry points to log carriage areas:  (a) Mellott Head Bandsaw - The aisleway between the wall and the log carriage runway for the Mellott Head Bandsaw did not have a warning sign posted to not enter the area, exposing employees to struck by and caught in hazards, on or about October 18, 2024.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 6, 2024

Abate by

Apr 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.265(e)(3)(i): Band resaws did not meet the specifications for band head saws as required by paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section, as follows:  Bandsaw wheels were not completely encased or guarded [reference 1910.265(e)(2)(ii)(c)]:  (a) Resaw - The top bandsaw wheel on the Resaw did not have guarding on rear (outfeed) side, exposing employees to caught in and struck by hazards, on or about October 18, 2023.  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 state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.