OSHA Inspection: PALLET DISTRIBUTORS INC.

Issued

May 13, 2025

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,705 · Current $5,853 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:  (c)(4)(ii)(A) A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure; (c)(4)(ii)(B) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy; (c)(4)(ii)(C) Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; and (c)(4)(ii)(D) Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.  a) On or about February 7, 2025, employees were performing service and maintenance covered activities on the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Gang Saw Stacker. The employer developed energy control procedures did not contain adequate information to include:   (1) Specific scope and purpose statement to include the stacker machine maintenance activities, such as jams and troubleshooting [A]; (2) Clear and specific steps for shutdown of the stacker machine and the release of any stored pneumatic energy [B];  b) On or about February 19, 2025, employees were performing service and maintenance covered activities on the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Notcher Stacker. The employer developed energy control procedures did not contain adequate information to include:  (1) Specific scope and purpose statement to include the stacker machine maintenance activities, such as jams and troubleshooting [A]; (2) Clear and specific steps for shutdown of the stacker machine and the release of any stored pneumatic energy [B];

Issued

May 13, 2025

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,705 · Current $5,853 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i):The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  a) On or about February 7, 2025, the employer did not train and evaluate the employee operating the Komatsu forklift.

Issued

May 13, 2025

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $58,524 · Current $29,262 Reduced

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.   a) On or about February 7, 2025, employees were performing servicing and maintenance activities, including troubleshooting and repairing the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Gang Saw Stacker. The employer did not ensure that the documented energy control procedures were utilized.   b) On or about February 19, 2025, employees were performing servicing and maintenance activities, including unjamming the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Notcher Stacker. The employer did not ensure that the documented energy control procedures were utilized.   Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1767380, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on December 2, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 10501 Burt St, Byesville, OH 43723.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1589265, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on September 14, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 10143 Copperhead Road NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1558518, citation number 1, item number 2a and was affirmed as a final order on February 7, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 10143 Copperhead Road NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.

Issued

May 13, 2025

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):    a) On or about February 7, 2025, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with pinch points while performing servicing and maintenance activities, including troubleshooting and repairing the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Gang Saw Stacker. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine's pneumatic energy was not isolated [per the 1910.147(d)(3)] and LOTO devices were not applied to the disconnect [per the 1910.147(d)(4)]. As a result the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.  b) On or about February 19, 2025, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with pinch points while performing servicing and maintenance activities, including troubleshooting and repairing the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Notcher Stacker. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine's pneumatic energy was not isolated [per the 1910.147(d)(3)] and LOTO devices were not applied to the disconnect [per the 1910.147(d)(4)]. As a result the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1767380, citation number 2, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on December 2, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 10501 Burt St, Byesville, OH 43723.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1589265, citation number 2, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on September 14, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 10143 Copperhead Road NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1558518, citation number 1, item number 2b and was affirmed as a final order on February 7, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 10143 Copperhead Road NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.

Issued

May 13, 2025

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $32,769 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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.   a) On or about February 7, 2025, employees operating the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Gang Saw Stacker, were exposed to pinch point hazards due to the unguarded lift table, shelf assembly, and shelf fingers.  b) On or about February 19, 2025, employees operating the Automated Industrial Technologies M2L-200 stacker machine, known as the Cut Shop Notcher Stacker, were exposed to pinch point hazards due to the unguarded lift table, shelf assembly, and shelf fingers.  Pallet Distributors Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health standard 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1558518, citation number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on February 7, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 10143 Copperhead Road NW, Sugarcreek, OH 44681.