OSHA Inspection: THE AZEK GROUP LLC

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-03-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $8275.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees exposed to a pinch point hazard from utilizing an air hoist to rotate mill rings during mill die-turning process:  a) On or about 12/02/2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from pinch point hazards created between the hoist block and Andritz pellet mill (Model: #32XWV-500 SN:133374436-2021) while applying a load to a Columbus Mckinnon hoist (SN:133374492-2021).

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11823.00 · Current $11823.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.   Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.   a) On or about 12/02/2025, the employer did not ensure that the LOTO Procedure for the Pellet Mill and Centri Feeder documented the control of potential hazardous energy sources such as thermal and mechanical/kinetic nor was the lockout procedure utilized for the pellet mill roll clearance check on pellet mill 1 (Manufacturer: Andritz Model: #32XWV-500), the procedures utilized did not require employees to be clear of the pellet mill and the Columbus Mckinnon Series 2200 small frame pilot air hoist SN:133374492-2021 during the turning of the pellet mill head and rollers.

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  a) On and before 12/02/2024, the employer did not conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures annually including the pellet mill-wood plant procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements were being followed.  b) On and before 12/02/2024, the employer did not conduct periodic inspections of the alternative procedures utilized in place of the energy control procedures annually for the Pellet Mill Roll Clearance Check to ensure that deviations to the procedure such as operators placing their hands on and/or near the hoist hook when utilizing the hoist were corrected.

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are 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. The training shall include the following:  (c)(7)(i)(A) Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a) On and before 12/02/24, the employer did not ensure that employees performing service and maintenance such as cleaning the inside of pellet mill 1(Manufacturer: Andritz Model: #32XWV-500 W/hoist SN:133374436-2021) and checking the clearance from the rollers to the mill were trained as authorized employees on the methods and means necessary for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls including any alternative methods established to rotate the pellet mill head and rollers using an air hoist (SN:133374492-2021) while cleaning and checking the clearance on pellet mill 1 .

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  (d)(1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. (d)(2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. (d)(3)Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  (d)(4) Lockout or tagout device application. (d)(4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. (d)(4)(ii) Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position. (d)(5)(i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe. (d)(6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a) On and before 12/02/2024, the employer did not ensure that employees engaged in the pellet mill roll clearance checks on pellet mill 1(Manufacturer: Andritz Model: #32XWV-500) followed the requirements of d1 thru d6 to ensure employees were not exposed to the movement of the pellet mill head and rollers while utilizing the Columbus Mckinnon Series 2200 small frame pilot air hoist SN:133374492-2021.

Issued

2025-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-12-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(1): Testing or positioning of machines, equipment or components thereof. In situations in which lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolating device and the machine or equipment energized to test or position the machine, equipment or component thereof, the following sequence of actions shall be followed:  (f)(1)(ii) Remove employees from the machine or equipment area in accordance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section;  a) On and before 12/02/24, the employer did not ensure that employees positioning the Andritz pellet mill head (Model: #32XWV-500 SN:133374436-2021) and rollers by utilizing the Columbus Mckinnon Series 2200 small frame pilot air hoist SN:133374492-2021 were clear of the equipment prior to turning the mill head utilizing the air hoist.