OSHA Inspection: US PALLETS, LLC

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $2,128 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  a) On or about June 11, 2025, the employer did not ensure that walk-working surfaces were kept clean, orderly, and in a sanitary condition in that there was a pile of wood debris and trash built up in the center of the floor near the Smart Product Pallet Dismantler.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(g)(2):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 June 11, 2025, the employer did not ensure exit  access was at least 28 inches in that the Portable Pallet Dismantler Pallet Hawg bandsaw only had one exit access which was less than 18 inches.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,547 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(b):Compressed air used for cleaning. Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.  a) On or about June 11, 2025, the employer did not ensure that compressed air used for cleaning was reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. in that the employees were cleaning wood chips and dust with the compressed air set at 80 p.s.i.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $2,128 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:  a) On or about June 11, 2025,  the employer had not developed, implemented, or maintained a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to chemicals such as but not limited to wood dust (lung irritant) from pine and oak which employees are exposed to when dismantling pallets.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.)  a) On or about June 11, 2025, the employer did not maintain a copy of the safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to oak and pine wood dust (lung irritant), which employees were exposed to when cleaning and dismantling pallets.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a) On or about June 11, 2025, the employer did not provide effective information and training to employees on hazardous chemicals in their work area including, but not limited to wood dust (lung irritant) which employees are exposed to when sawing and dismantling pallets and cleaning wood dust.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $3,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(1)(i): Examination, installation, and use of equipment - Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the following considerations: Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this subpart;  a) On or about June 11, 2025 at the Smart Products Pallet Dismantler, the employer did not ensure the suitability of equipment for installation and use in that the 240 volt 30amp Square D electrical box labeled CCTS 246 LPB has electrical wiring contained within corrugated polypropylene loom tubing which is split open down the entire length of the tubing.  This tubing is not rated to be used as electrical conduit.

Issued

Sep 29, 2025

Abate by

Apr 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2)(i): Covers and canopies. All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings shall be provided with covers identified for the purpose. If metal covers are used, they shall be grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box shall have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy. Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants pass shall be provided with bushings designed for the purpose or shall have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords may bear.  a) On or about June 11, 2025, at the Smart Products Pallet Dismantler under the 240 volt 30amp Square D electrical box labeled CCT5 8-10-12 LPB , the employer did not ensure that a cover or faceplate was placed over the receptacle outlet as the NEMA 50 amp 4 prong socket is an insert that goes into a cover plate and is not designed to be used as a cover plate for a receptacle box. The top of the outlet box was also left open with wires instead of flexible cord going through the top opening with no suitable bushings. Additionally, the 30 amp electrical box is not suitable for the 50 amp socket.