OSHA Inspection: MIDWEST HARDWOOD COMPANY, LLC.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $8,275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  (a) Pallet Mill, Baker Notcher; On or about December 22, 2025, and dates prior, the energy control procedure was not utilized prior to employees unjamming wood from the notcher cutting heads, exposing employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide adequate training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program was understood by employees:  (a) Pallet Mill, Baker Notcher; On or about December 22, 2025, and dates prior, the employer did not provide adequate training for employees on the recognition and control of hazardous energy source(s) before employees performed covered activities to include unjamming wood from the notcher cutting heads.  (b) Sawmill; On or about January 21, 2026, and dates prior, the employer did not provide adequate training for employees on the recognition and control of hazardous energy source(s) prior to employees performing covered activities to include cleaning under and around machinery such as, but not limited to, the trim saw.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3): All energy isolating devices that were needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment were not physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s):   (a) Pallet Mill, Baker Notcher; On or about December 22, 2025, and dates prior, energy isolating devices were not operated in such a manner as to isolate energy sources, prior to employees unjamming wood from the notcher cutting heads, exposing employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(4)(i): Lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees:  (a) Pallet Mill, Baker Notcher; On or about December 22, 2025, and dates prior, lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employee(s), prior to employees unjamming wood from the notcher cutting heads, exposing employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Jun 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment:   (a) Sawmill; On or about January 21, 2026 and dates prior, the employer did not ensure that each employee who performed cleaning tasks affixed a personal lockout device prior to performing covered activities to include cleaning under and around machinery such as, but not limited to, the trim saw.

Issued

May 15, 2026

Abate by

Aug 31, 2026

Penalty

Initial $42,558 · Current $21,279 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedures to ensure that the procedures and requirements of this standard were followed:   (a) Pallet Mill; On or about January  12, 2026 and dates prior, the employer did not conduct an annual audit of the machine specific energy control procedures to include, but not be limited to, the notcher, resaw, resaw infeed assembly, trim saw, trim saw feed assembly, wood mizer, the overs conveyor, the chipper,  and the chip shaker. The procedures had not been audited within one year of their last evaluation and/or issuance of  2023.  (b) Sawmill; On or about January 21, 2026, the employer did not conduct an annual audit of the machine specific energy control procedures to include, but not be limited to, the chip shaker screen, debarker, debarker mill transfer system, incline waste belt, log deck/stop-n-load, head saw, gang saw, resaw, and resaw hydraulic pump skid. The procedures had not been audited within one year of their last evaluation and/or issuance of 2023.  Park Falls Hardwoods was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1547461, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on February 14, 2022, with respect to a workplace located at 143 North 5th Avenue Park Falls, WI 54552.