OSHA Inspection: KOLBE & KOLBE MILLWORK CO., INC.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,188 · Current $6,919 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 (c)(4)(ii)(A) through (c)(4)(ii)(D) of this section.  On or about and at times prior to August 19, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the equipment specific energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline all elements specified in the standard for employees performing servicing and/or maintenance operations, in the following instances:  a) The energy control procedure for the Dowel Boring Machine (ID 2249) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, techniques to be utilized for the control of electrical energy, and the magnitude of electrical energy. b) The energy control procedure for the Fiberglass Saw (ID 1057) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, and the magnitude of electrical energy. c) The energy control procedure for Router Table (ID 0570) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, and the magnitude of electrical energy. d) The energy control procedure for Router Table (ID 2496) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, and the magnitude of electrical energy. e) The energy control procedure for the Tenoner (ID 0148) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, and the magnitude of electrical energy. f) The energy control procedure for the Unisaw (ID 1254) did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, the means to enforce compliance, and the magnitude of electrical energy. g) The energy control procedure for the Wagoma #2 did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, authorization, rules, and the means to enforce compliance. h) The energy control procedure for the Weinig #4 (ID 0166) did not clearly and specifically outline the means to enforce compliance, techniques to be utilized for the control of electrical energy, the magnitude of hydraulic energy, and a method of verifying isolation of hydraulic and pneumatic energies.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 or about and at times prior to January 8, 2026, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that a periodic inspection was conducted at least annually for  energy control procedures including, but not limited to Dowel Boring Machine (ID 2249), Fiberglass Saw (ID 1057), Mortiser #1, Router Table (ID 0570), Router Table (ID 2496), Tenoner (ID 0148), Wagoma #2 (ID 0260), and Weinig #4 (ID 0166).

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,188 · Current $6,919 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Unisaw (ID 0290) was equipped with a guard to prevent access to the point of operation, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(c)(1): Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be guarded by a hood which shall completely enclose that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut. The hood and mounting shall be arranged so that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut but it shall not offer any considerable resistance to insertion of material to saw or to passage of the material being sawed. The hood shall be made of adequate strength to resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, and handling, and shall be so designed as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. It shall be made of material that is soft enough so that it will be unlikely to cause tooth breakage. The hood shall be so mounted as to insure that its operation will be positive, reliable, and in true alignment with the saw; and the mounting shall be adequate in strength to resist any reasonable side thrust or other force tending to throw it out of line.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Rip Saw (ID T S # 106) hood and mounting was arranged so that the hood would automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(c)(3): Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be provided with nonkickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator. They shall be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of materials being cut.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Rip Saw (ID T S # 106) was provided with nonkickback fingers or dogs, exposing each employee to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(d)(1): Each circular crosscut table saw shall be guarded by a hood which shall meet all the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section for hoods for circular ripsaws.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 19, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Cutoff Saw (ID 0856) hood and mounting was arranged so that the hood would automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards. b) On or about and at times prior to August 19, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Unisaw (ID 1254) hood and mounting was arranged so that the hood would automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards. c) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Table Saw (SN CI-7513, ID 1626) hood and mounting was arranged so that the hood would automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards. d) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the Unisaw (ID 0276) hood and mounting was arranged so that the hood would automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut, exposing each employee to contact with point of operations hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(k)(3): Each tenoning machine shall have all cutting heads, and saws if used, covered by metal guards. These guards shall cover at least the unused part of the periphery of the cutting head. If such a guard is constructed of sheet metal, the material used shall be not less than one-sixteenth inch in thickness, and if cast iron is used, it shall be not less than three-sixteenths inch in thickness.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that Tenoner (SN MJ 5323, ID 0148) had all saws and cutting heads covered by metal guards, exposing employees to contact with point of operation hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(m)(1): The cutting heads of each wood shaper, hand-fed panel raiser, or other similar machine not automatically fed, shall be enclosed with a cage or adjustable guard so designed as to keep the operator's hand away from the cutting edge. The diameter of circular shaper guards shall be not less than the greatest diameter of the cutter. In no case shall a warning device of leather or other material attached to the spindle be acceptable.  On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that the cutting edge was guarded to keep the operator's hand away from the cutting edge, exposing employees to contact with point of operation hazards in the following instances: a) Cope Shaper (ID 0210) was not adequately guarded. b) Router Table (ID 0556) was not adequately guarded. c) Router Table (ID 0570)  was not adequately guarded. d) Router Table (ID 0571) was not adequately guarded. e) Router Table (ID 1814)  was not adequately guarded. f) Router Table (ID 1815)  was not adequately guarded. g) Router Table (ID 1816) was not adequately guarded. h) Router Table (ID 1851)  was not adequately guarded.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(r)(4): The mention of specific machines in paragraphs (a) thru (q) and this paragraph (r) of this section, inclusive, is not intended to exclude other woodworking machines from the requirement that suitable guards and exhaust hoods be provided to reduce to a minimum the hazard due to the point of operation of such machines.  a) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that Mortiser #1 (ID 1498) was guarded to prevent exposure to the point of operation, exposing each employee to point of operations hazards.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $99,300 · Current $50,000 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.  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.  On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that energy control procedures were developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in servicing and/or maintenance activities, exposing employees to hazardous energies in the following instances:  a) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the 323 Casement (ID 0390). b) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Dowel Boring Machine (ID 1699). c) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Elumatec Saw (Model 1040099517, ID 2401). d) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Miter Machine (ID 0658). e) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Miter Machine (ID 0659). f) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Powermat 500. g) The employer  did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Table Saw (ID 1626)  h) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Unisaw (ID 0276). i) The employer did not ensure that a procedure was developed for the Weinig Unimat #23E.  Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1596570, citation number 1, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on September 30, 2022, with respect to the establishment located 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d):The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a) On or about August 25, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in servicing/maintenance activities on the Elumatec Saw (Model 1040099517, ID 2401). The employer did not ensure that the employee had implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to perform servicing/maintenance activities. The machine was not deenergized, such as but not limited to electrical, prior to the employee engaging in the servicing/maintenance activity. b) On or about August 27, 2025, at the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; an employee was exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in servicing/maintenance activities on the Weinig #4 (ID 0166). The employer did not ensure that the employee had implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to perform servicing/maintenance activities. The machine was not deenergized, such as but not limited to electrical, prior to the employee engaging in the servicing/maintenance activity.  As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.  Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR  1910.147(d), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1505747, citation number 1, item number 1b, and was affirmed as a final order on February 24, 2021, with respect to the establishment located 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin.

Issued

Jan 23, 2026

Abate by

Jul 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii):The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  At the establishment located at 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin; the employer did not ensure that one or more methods of machine guarding was provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards in the following instances:  a) On or about August 11, 2025, a pneumatic hold down for Clamping Machine #2425 was not adequately guarded when an employee was gluing wooden blocks together, resulting in an employee's finger being caught between the pneumatic hold down and a wooden block, resulting in an amputation. b) On or about and at times prior to August 19, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Unisaw (ID 1254) adjacent to operator's position. c) On or about and at times prior to August 27, 2025, an employee was exposed to ingoing nip points on the conveyor (Model 220-36"-6', SN #98-47579) where the the belt contacted the drive pulley adjacent to operator's position. d) On or about and at times prior to August 27, 2025, an employee was exposed to ingoing nip points on the conveyor (ID 0172) where the belt contacted the drive pulley adjacent to operator's position. e) On or about and at times prior to August 27, 2025, an employee was exposed to ingoing nip points on the conveyor (Weining Powermat 1000 Conveyor) where the belt contacted the drive pulley adjacent to operator's position. f) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Dowel Boring Machine (ID 1699) adjacent to operator's position. g) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Dowel Boring Machine (ID 2249) adjacent to operator's position. h) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded rotating equipment on the drill press (Model JDP-15MF, SN 13082424) adjacent to operator's position. i) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to an unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Head Router Table (ID 1834) adjacent to operator's position. j) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold down on the Mortiser #1 adjacent to operator's position. k) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold down on the Table Saw (ID 1626) adjacent to operator's position. l) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Router Table (ID 0556) adjacent to operator's position. m) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Router Table (ID 0570) adjacent to operator's position. n) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Router Table (ID 0571) adjacent to operator's position. o) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold down on the Router Table (ID 1814) adjacent to operator's position. p) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold down on the Router Table (ID 1815) adjacent to operator's position. q) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold down on the Router Table (ID 1816) adjacent to operator's position. r) On or about and at times prior to August 28, 2025, an employee was exposed to unguarded pneumatic hold downs on the Unisaw (ID 0276) adjacent to operator's position.  Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1658592, citation number 1, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on July 6, 2023, with respect to the establishment located 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin.  Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1596570, citation number 1, item number 2a, and was affirmed as a final order on September 30, 2022, with respect to the establishment located 1323 South 11th Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin.