OSHA Inspection: LIGNETICS GROUP

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(1): The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.   On or about June 27, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, a Pellet Mill Operator was exposed to noise at 88.7% (measured on 80 dBA Threshold) of the daily dose over 436 minutes. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hout time-weighted average of 89.1 dBA. The Pellet Mill Operator had not received an audiogram in 2022 or before June 27, 2023.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $5581.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.  NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.  On or about July 26, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the Dryer #2 Burn Chamber entry hatch was not identified as a permit required confined space.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit required confined spaces, acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the du(a)(LOCATION)(SPECIFIC OPERATIONS AND/OR CONDITIONS)   On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the employer had not provided adequate training to employees performing Entrant, Attendant, and Entry Supervisor roles.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(k)(3): To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant. Retrieval systems shall meet the following requirements. (i)  Each authorized entrant shall use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant's back near shoulder level, above the entrant's head, or at another point which the employer can establish presents a profile small enough for the successful removal of the entrant. Wristlets may be used in lieu of the chest or full body harness if the employer can demonstrate that the use of a chest or full body harness is infeasible or creates a greater hazard and that the use of wristlets is the safest and most effective alternative. (ii) The other end of the retrieval line shall be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space in such a manner that rescue can begin as soon as the rescuer becomes aware that rescue is necessary. A mechanical device shall be available to retrieve personnel from vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet (1.52 m) deep:   On or about June 14, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the entrant was not wearing a chest or full body harness with a retrieval line while working inside the Dryer #1 Burn Chamber. The attendant understood he was expected enter into and pull the Entrant out of the Dryer #1 Burn Chamber if rescue was required.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $5581.00

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):  On or about June 6, 2023, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in lubricating activities on the Dryer #2 Rotating Drum.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to add grease to Zerks fittings and to adjust and add lubricant to the trunnion lubricators.  The machine was not deenergized 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.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $5581.00 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the Pellet Bagger Line Conveyor 1 and Conveyor 2 had ingoing nip points created at the tail pulley area.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6696.00 · Current $3000.00 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 27, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, in the Line #1 building, a Coil Hose Pneumatics air nozzle attached to an airline had a dead-end pressure measurement of 42 p.s.i.  b) On or about June 27, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, in the Pellet Bagging Area, a Milton air nozzle without dead-end pressure relief was attached to an unpressurized airline and was available for usage.

Issued

2023-11-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-12-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6696.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(b): Documentation. All areas designated as hazardous (classified) locations under the Class and Zone system and areas designated under the Class and Division system established after August 13, 2007 shall be properly documented. This documentation shall be available to those authorized to design, install, inspect, maintain, or operate electric equipment at the location:  On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the employer had not documented which locations within the establishment are designated as electrical hazardous (classified) locations.

Issued

2023-08-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-08-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $5581.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(5)(i):(i) The employer must ensure each employee on a runway or similar walkway is protected from falling 4 feet (1.2 m) or more to a lower level by a guardrail system:  a) On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not a guardrail between the catwalk for the Dryer 2 Cyclone Rotatory Feeder Fire Auger structure and the interior side edge of the catwalk. There is an opening between the catwalk surface and the Dryer 2 Rotatory Feeder Fire Auger structure. b) On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not an interior guardrail on the south side catwalk section of the first level in the Hammermill Area. The height of the I-beam edged elevated platform with an expanded metal interior surface was too high to prevent  access into the hole under the elevated surface.

Issued

2023-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(2): Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members are installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high:  On or about February 7, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, the Dryer #1 Trailer Connection Platform did not have a midrail installed on the guardrail system for the side the trailers are connected for filling. The Dryer #1 Trailer Connection Platform surface is 91 inches above the concrete ground level.

Issued

2023-08-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-08-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(13): When guardrail systems are used around holes that serve as points of access (such as ladderways), the guardrail system opening: (i) Has a self-closing gate that slides or swings away from the hole, and is equipped with a top rail and midrail or equivalent intermediate member that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section; or (ii) is offset to prevent an employee from walking or falling into the hole:  a) On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not a self-closing gate or offset guardrail system located at the Dryer 2 Cyclone Rotatory Feeder Fire Auger where employees accessed the catwalk via ladder access.  b) On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not a self-closing gate or offset guardrail system located at the Dryer 2 Trailer Platform on the East side where employees connect the hose that blows product into trailers.  c) On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not a self-closing gate or offset guardrail system located at the Dryer 2 Trailer Platform on the West side where employees connect the hose that blows product into trailers.  d)  On or about June 6, 2023, at the establishment located at 238648 State Highway 107N, Marathon, WI, there was not a self-closing gate or offset guardrail system on the Catwalk for the Hammermill.