OSHA Inspection: EVERGREEN PALLET LLC

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $6,453

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.110(f)(6)(ii): Containers were not stored in a suitable enclosure or otherwise protected against tampering.  On the east side of the Storage Plant, located outside, employee(s) engaged in material handling activities were exposed to struck by and explosion hazards in that several propane containers that were half full were found laying on the ground in direct sunlight, in front of the unlocked propane storage rack, unsecured with the door open, approximately 2 feet from the normal path of travel for the forklifts where they could be tampered with.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,680 · Current $9,680

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed 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:  At the Assembly Plant on Line 3, employee(s) engaged in maintenance and production activities were exposed to amputation and laceration hazards in that the employer failed to develop a written program for the control of hazardous energy with the presence of machines with dual sources of energy, to include electric and pneumatic. The machines with dual sources of energy were as follows:  1. Resaw: Assembly Plant; Line 3; Go Fast Manufacturing, Unknown Model, Serial number; Red in color. Sources of energy: Electric and hydraulic 2. Pallet Conveyor Belt System: Assembly Plant; Line 3; Unknown Make, Model, Serial number. Sources of energy: Electric and hydraulic.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $11,292

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.176(b): Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse:   In the Storage Yard, employee(s) are exposed to struck by hazards in that pallets are stacked approximately 16-17 feet in height adjacent and in close proximity to where employee walkways and forklift paths are present. The pallet stacks are improperly nested on uneven ground, and are leaning at an angle increasing the risk of collapse.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $11,292

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting 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.  In the Storage Yard, Storage Plant, and the Assembly Plant, employee(s) engaged in material handling activities utilizing forklifts were exposed to struck by hazards in that the employer did not ensure each forklift operator had successfully completed training program that include a combination of formal instruction, practical training, and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,680 · Current $9,680

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  In the Storage Yard, Storage Plant, and Assembly Plant, employee(s) engaged in production operations and material handling activities were exposed to struck by, laceration, and amputation hazards in that the employer did not verify through a written certification that each forklift operator was certified prior to utilizing material handling equipment such as forklifts.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,680 · Current $9,680

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  At the Assembly Plant on Line 3, employee(s) engaged in pallet manufacturing operations were exposed to amputation and laceration hazards in that on the conveyor belt system the end of the conveyor belt rollers were not guarded.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $1,613 · Current $1,613

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.4(a): The employer did not record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case that resulted in the general recording criteria on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.  On or about September 6, 2023, the employer did not record the following workplace injury on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent for the calendar year 2023 regarding a full amputation of an employee(s) left thumb. The incident occurred in the Assembly Plant of the facility and the employer recorded the event as a smashed hand, not an amputation. The event was logged on line #43 of the OSHA 300 Form.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $8,067

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in in-patient hospitalization, amputation or the loss of an eye.  On or about September 6, 2023, the employer did not report within 24 hours the following workplace injury to OSHA on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent for the calendar year 2023 regarding a full amputation of an employee(s) left thumb. The incident occurred in the Assembly Plant of the facility and the employer recorded the event as a smashed left hand, not an amputation. The event was logged on line #43 of the OSHA 300 Form but was never reported to OSHA.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $906 · Current $906

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  In the Storage Yard, Storage Plant, and Assembly Plant, employee(s) engaged in pallet manufacturing and material handling operations were exposed to struck by, laceration, and amputation hazards in that the employer did not assess the workplace areas to determine the hazards that are present which require the use of PPE.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):  In the Storage Yard, Storage Plant, and Assembly Plant, employee(s) engaged in pallet manufacturing operations and material handling activities were exposed to struck by, laceration, and amputation hazards in that the employer did not verify through a written certification that a workplace hazard assessment had been performed whereby employee(s) were working near pallet stacks that reached 16-17 feet in height and were working near and around machinery that could cause lacerations and amputations.

Issued

Feb 8, 2024

Abate by

Mar 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $906 · Current $906

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  In the Storage Yard, Storage Plant, and Assembly Plant, employee(s) engaged in material handling activities utilizing forklifts were exposed to health hazards in that they were not provided any training as it relates to hazardous chemicals in the workplace, to include but not limited to the hazards associated with replacing propane tanks on the forklifts.