OSHA Inspection: APPALACHIAN WOOD FLOORS, INC.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,970 · Current $7,985 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(c)(2): Exit discharge. The street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space to which an exit discharge leads must be large enough to accommodate the building occupants likely to use the exit route.  a) On or about June 25, 2024, through July 30, 2024,  in the Glue Department, the employer did not ensure that the outside area to which the marked exit door on the north wall discharged was large enough to accommodate evacuees from the adjacent work areas in the event of an emergency. The outside space consisted of an approximate 21 inch vertical drop to the lower level from the door's edge, and  an approximate 29 inch horizontal distance to the retaining wall opposite of the door. Employees were exposed to hazards associated with limited space at the exit discharge affecting expeditious evacuation efforts.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(g)(2): An exit route must meet minimum height and width requirements. An exit access must be at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points. Where there is only one exit access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit access.  a) On or about May 30, 2024, in the Solid Department, the employer did not maintain  an at least 28 in. wide path of exit travel where it was reduced to approximately 17 inches  wide and 21 inches wide in some locations due to the presence of wooden pallets, products, materials, and other objects. Employees were exposed to hazards associated with limited space of the exit route affecting expeditious evacuation efforts.    b) On or about July 30, 2024, in the Glue Department, the employer did not maintain an at least 28 inch wide path of exit travel where it was reduced to approximately 25 inches wide at the wooden stairway due to the presence of wooden pallets, products, materials, and other objects. Employees were exposed to hazards associated with limited space of the exit route affecting expeditious evacuation efforts.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.  a) On or about June 25, 2024, in the Glue Department, the employer did not maintain an unobstructed path of exit travel where the north wall exit door had a piece of wood used to prop it open for ventilation. Employees utilizing this door were exposed to trip hazards affecting expeditious evacuation efforts.  b) On or about July 30, 2024, in the Glue Department, the employer did not ensure that stairs or a ramp were provided at the outside portion of the exit route from the north wall exit door (discharge). The outside area was not substantially level as there was an approximate 21 inch vertical drop to the lower level from the door's edge, and approximate 29 inch horizontal distance to the retaining wall opposite of that door. Employees exiting into this area were exposed to hazards affecting expeditious evacuation efforts.  c) On or about September 6, 2024, in the Solid Department, the employer did not maintain an unobstructed outside path of exit travel where the area outside of the exit door nearest to the Chop Saw was partially blocked by the permanently installed grinding system.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $57,044 · Current $28,522 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(c): Access and egress.  The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces.  a) On or about June 25, 2024,  in the Solid Department, the employer had not provided and ensured a safe means of access and egress to the far end of the chain deck conveyor across from their designated work stations. Employees were exposed to trip and fall hazards when climbing onto and walking on top of the running chain deck conveyor to get to the lumber boards that they could not reach from their workstations.   b) On or about June 25, 2024,  in the Solid Department, the employer had not provided and ensured a safe means of access and egress to chop saw #2, in that the employees had to climb onto and walk on the running chain deck conveyor feeding the chop saws to exit and access their designated chop saw #2 work station, exposing employees to trip and fall hazards.   The  Appalachian Wood Floors, Inc. DBA Graf Custom Hardwood was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.22(c), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1626768, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 4, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 838 Campbell Avenue, Portsmouth, OH 45662.  The  Appalachian Wood Floors, Inc. DBA Graf Custom Hardwood as previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.22(c), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1597921, citation number 1, item number 1a  and was affirmed as a final order on July 20, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 838 Campbell Avenue, Portsmouth, OH 45662.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $22,818 · Current $13,493 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables. identification, splices, and terminations. Flexible cords and cables shall be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that will prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws.  a) On or about May 30, 2024,  in the Banding room at the garage door,  the employer did not ensure that the hanging garage door opener device was provided with an effective strain relief to prevent the energized wires from being pulled away from the top cap. Forklift operators were exposed to contact with exposed live wires when using the controller to press buttons for opening and closing of the doors.   b)  On or about June 25, 2024, in the Solid Department, at the ground level below the Hasko saw on the tongue side of the end matcher, the employer did not ensure that flexible cords and cables were connected to devices and fittings so that effective strain relief was provided. The black plastic enclosure was damaged and pulled away exposing employees to contact with live wires in the area where they were working and cleaning around the electrical cabinet.   c) On or about  July 30, 2024, in the Solid Department at the Hydromat 1000 Moulder lift, the employer did not ensure that flexible cords and cables were connected to devices and fittings so that an effective strain relief was provided. The four-gang electrical box located on the floor had energized exposed wires pulled out from both side openings exposing employees to contact with those wires when employees were working/walking in that area.    The  Appalachian Wood Floors, Inc. DBA Graf Custom Hardwood was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1626768, citation number 2, item number 6, and was affirmed as a final order on March 4, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 838 Campbell Ave, Portsmouth, OH  45622.  The Appalachian Wood Floors, Inc. DBA Graf Custom Hardwood was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.305(g)((2)(iii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1597921, citation number 1, item number 4b and was affirmed as a final order on July 20, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 838 Campbell Ave., Portsmouth, OH  45662.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Abate by

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(2)(ii): In locations where electric equipment is likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards shall be so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage.  a) On or about July 30, 2024 in the Solid Department at the Hydromat 1000 Moulder lift, the four gang electrical box located on the floor was exposed to physical damage in that it had knockouts pushed-in creating access openings for employees working in the area.

Issued

Nov 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(1)(i): Conductors entering cutout boxes, cabinets, or fittings shall be protected from abrasion, and openings through which conductors enter shall be effectively closed.  a) On or about July 30, 2024, in the Solid Department, at the Grading Table, the employer did not ensure that the exposed energized wires were protected from abrasions at the handy electrical box's conduit opening and at the end of the conduit that was separated from that box. Employees were working in the area and placing conductive items nearby the exposed energized wires.