OSHA Inspection: KONZ WOOD PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $4437.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.25(c)(3):(3) In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer must ensure standard stairs have a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches (24 cm);  On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914,  the employer did not ensure that the standard stairs used by employees to access maintenance areas above the Grinder Conveyor outside of the Rough Mill had a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches, exposing employee to potential falls while using the stairs.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(11)(ii): (ii) Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers is equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as identified in Table D-2 of this standard.   a) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, the employer did not ensure that the ship stairs used by employees to access the nail feed areas for Viking 1 in the Main Mill were equipped with handrails and stair rails to prevent falls.  b) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, the employer did not ensure that the ship stairs used by employees to access the nail feed areas for Viking 2 in the South Mill were equipped with handrails and stair rails to prevent falls. c) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, the employer did not ensure that the standard stairs used by employees to access maintenance areas above the Grinder Conveyor outside of the Rough Mill were equipped with handrails and stair rails to prevent falls.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7098.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the systems identified in 1910.28(b)(1)(i)(A)-1910.28(b)(1)(i)(C).  On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees working from the Rough Mill outdoor lumber feed platform for the outdoor lumber feed conveyor to the Multi-saw were not protected from falls of greater than four feet when the south side edge of the platform did not have guardrail and no other forms of fall protection.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $8874.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): 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 specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.  a) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees performing service and maintenance work in the Rough Mill, on the Resaw Infeed carriage, were not protected from all hazardous energy sources due to the gravitational energy of the carriage not being accounted for on the written energy control procedure.  b) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees performing service and maintenance work in the Rough Mill, on the Resaw Stacker carriage, were not protected from all hazardous energy sources due to the gravitational energy of the carriage not being accounted for on the written energy control procedure. c) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees performing service and maintenance work in the Rough Mill, on the Multi-saw Stacker table, were not protected from all hazardous energy sources due to the gravitational energy of the table not being accounted for on the written energy control procedure.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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 December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees conducting service and maintenance activities in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential struck-by and caught-in hazards when the Periodic Inspection of the Rough Mill Woodcraft Infeed energy control procedure had not been conducted annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard were being followed. b) On or about December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees conducting service and maintenance activities in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential struck-by and caught-in hazards when the Periodic Inspection of the Rough Mill Woodcraft Notcher energy control procedure had not been conducted annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard were being followed. c) On or about December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 577 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees conducting service and maintenance activities in the Recycle Building were exposed to potential struck-by and caught-in hazards when the Periodic Inspection of the Recycle Grinder energy control procedure had not been conducted annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard were being followed.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12421.00 · Current $12421.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(iii)(A): Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard, or when there is a change in the energy control procedures.   On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, the employer failed to ensure that employees whose job assignments were changed to new equipment had received training on the servicing and maintenance duties and hazardous energy controls prior to allowing them to conduct LOTO covered tasks.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $4437.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.165(b)(2): The employee alarm shall be capable of being perceived above ambient noise or light levels by all employees in the affected portions of the workplace. Tactile devices may be used to alert those employees who would not otherwise be able to recognize the audible or visual alarm.  On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, and 505 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, the employer did not ensure that the emergency alarm system could be perceived by all employees, including an employee who is deaf, and exposed employees to possible entrapment during emergencies.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12421.00 · Current $12421.00

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.  a) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when the guarding for the infeed carriage of the Resaw did not prevent access to the moving parts of the machine.  b) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when the guarding for the Resaw Stacker did not prevent access to the carriage area of the machine.  c) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the pinch points created by the return end of the chain conveyor table between the outfeed of the Resaw and waterfall conveyor for the Resaw Stacker were not guarded to prevent exposure. d) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the sheer point created by separator bars of the Notcher waterfall chain conveyor and the opening of the waterfall frame was not guarded to prevent exposure. e) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the pinch points created by the return end of the chain conveyor near the Multi-saw Operators station were not guarded to prevent exposure. f) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Chip Room were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the pinch points created by the return end of the belt conveyor was not guarded to prevent exposure. g) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in and struck by hazards when the Multi-Saw Stacker table was not adequately guarded to prevent access during production activities.   h) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill were exposed to potential caught-in when lift fingers of the Viking Pallet Stacker were not guarded to prevent exposure.  i) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the South Mill were exposed to potential caught-in when lift fingers of the Viking Pallet Stacker were not guarded to prevent exposure.  j) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 577 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Recycle Building were exposed to potential caught-in and struck by hazards when the pinch points created by the pallet tipper, near the operator's foot control, was not guarded to prevent exposure. k ) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 577 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Recycle Building were exposed to potential caught-in and struck by hazards when the pinch points created by the return end of the chain conveyor near the Trim Track Operators station were not guarded to prevent exposure. l) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 505 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in Building 505 were exposed to potential caught-in and struck by hazards when the Drill Press was not guarded to prevent exposure to the rotating chuck or flying chips.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(i)(1): All portions of the saw blade shall be enclosed or guarded, except for the working portion of the blade between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table. Bandsaw wheels shall be fully encased. The outside periphery of the enclosure shall be solid. The front and back of the band wheels shall be either enclosed by solid material or by wire mesh or perforated metal. Such mesh or perforated metal shall be not less than 0.037 inch (U.S. Gage No. 20), and the openings shall be not greater than three-eighths inch. Solid material used for this purpose shall be of an equivalent strength and firmness. The guard for the portion of the blade between the sliding guide and the upper-saw-wheel guard shall protect the saw blade at the front and outer side. This portion of the guard shall be self-adjusting to raise and lower with the guide. The upper-wheel guard shall be made to conform to the travel of the saw on the wheel.  On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees were exposed to potential struck-by hazards from the unused portion of the Resaw blade when an opening used to check the tracking of the blade was not guarded to prevent exposure.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12421.00 · Current $0.00 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.  On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 577 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Recycle Building were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when the point of operation on the Pallet Dismantler was not effectively guarded to prevent contact with the blade.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

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.  On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill, Custom Area, were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when the hood guard for Tablesaw 1 did not completely enclose the portion of the blade above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(c)(2): Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be furnished with a spreader to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator. The spreader shall be made of hard tempered steel, or its equivalent, and shall be thinner than the saw kerf. It shall be of sufficient width to provide adequate stiffness or rigidity to resist any reasonable side thrust or blow tending to bend or throw it out of position. The spreader shall be attached so that it will remain in true alignment with the saw even when either the saw or table is tilted. The provision of a spreader in connection with grooving, dadoing, or rabbeting is not required. On the completion of such operations, the spreader shall be immediately replaced.   a) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill, Custom Area, were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when Tablesaw 1 was not equipped with a spreader to prevent material being cut from being thrown back into the direction of the operator.  b) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill, Custom Area, were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when Tablesaw 2 was not equipped with a spreader to prevent material being cut from being thrown back into the direction of the operator.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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 and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill, Custom Area, were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when Tablesaw 1 was not equipped with nonkickback fingers or dogs to prevent material being cut from being thrown back into the direction of the operator.  b) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Main Mill, Custom Area, were exposed to potential struck-by hazards when Tablesaw 2 was not equipped with nonkickback fingers or dogs to prevent material being cut from being thrown back into the direction of the operator.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $4437.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.  On or about December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential entanglement hazards when a projecting shaft end of the waterfall conveyor section leading to the Woodcraft Notcher did not present a smooth edge and projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(f)(3): Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.  a) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the guard for the in running nip point of the chain and sprocket drive of the Resaw Infeed Operator platform had been removed and allowed operators to access the hazard area during photo eye adjustments.  b) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential caught-in hazards when the guard for the in running nip point of the chain and sprocket drive of the Multi-saw conveyor did not fully enclose the hazard area.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8873.00 · Current $4437.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.253(b)(4)(i): Oxygen cylinders shall not be stored near highly combustible material, especially oil and grease; or near reserve stocks of carbide and acetylene or other fuel-gas cylinders, or near any other substance likely to cause or accelerate fire; or in an acetylene generator compartment.  On or about December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential fire and explosion hazards when cylinders of compressed Oxygen and cylinders of Acetylene were stored together.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7098.00 · Current $3549.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment.  a) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential burn hazards when the electrical box behind the Rough Mill Multi-saw was not effectively closed to protect the live electrical components inside the box.  b) On and before December 14, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential burn hazards when the Campbell Electrical Panel near operator station of Rough Mill Multisaw when missing knockouts had not been replaced.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.  a) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential shock hazards when multiple flexible cords were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring and were run under, through and around the Resaw Infeed Sweep and the Resaw Conveyor to the waterfall. b) On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to potential shock hazards when multiple flexible cords were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring and were found wrapped around metal raceways and handrails near the Resaw Stacker control panel.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $17747.00 · Current $8874.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(6)(i):(i) Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.  On and before December 5, 2023, with respect to an establishment located 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914, employees in the Rough Mill were exposed to fall hazards around dangerous equipment when the Operator platform of Rough Mill Multi-stacker was not provided with fall protection to prevent falls onto or under the Multi-saw Stacker.   Konz Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard , which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1452010, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on April 28, 202, with respect to a workplace located at 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $24842.00 · Current $24842.00

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):  a) On and before December 5, 2023, employees working in the Rough Mill were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in unjamming activities on the Resaw Stacker.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to remove jammed boards in the Stacker carriage area.  The machine was not deenergized prior to employees engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  b) On and before December 5, 2023, employees working in the Main Mill were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in Preventative Maintenance activities on Viking Nailer 1.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to perform part evaluation and replacement activities which required them to go past guards.  The machine was not deenergized prior to employees engaging in the servicing / maintenance activity.  c) On and before December 4, 2023, employees conducting cleaning activities on and around machinery were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities in the Rough Mill, Main Mill, South Mill, and Recycle Buildings.  The employer did not ensure that employees implemented energy control application steps or equivalent protective measures prior to allowing them to clean behind guards.  The machines were not deenergized prior to employees engaging in the servicing / maintenance activities.  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.  Konz Wood Products, Inc. was previously cited for a Serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1452010, citation number 1, item number 2/a and was affirmed as a final order on April 28, 202, with respect to a workplace located at 616 N. Perkins St, Appleton, WI 54914.