OSHA Inspection: HARTZELL HARDWOODS

Issued

2025-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11585.00 · Current $11585.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B):Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;  a)On or about September 4, 2025, the employer failed to develop adequate energy control procedures for servicing equipment in the boiler room. The procedures did not include instructions for blocking the fan, which retained hazardous residual energy after shutdown. As a result, the maintenance employee was exposed to hazardous mechanical energy from the rotating fan.  b)On or about September 4, 2025, the employer failed to develop accurate energy control procedures for equipment in the boiler room. The posted procedures and tag labeling for shutoff switch E9 incorrectly identified it as controlling motor 20, when in fact it controlled motor 24. This discrepancy created confusion about which energy source was being isolated. As a result, employees were exposed to hazardous energy due to inaccurate lockout/tagout information.

Issued

2025-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11585.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d):Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:  1910.147(d)(1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.  1910.147(d)(2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage.  1910.147(d)(3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  1910.147(d)(4) Lockout or tagout device application.  1910.147(d)(4)(i) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.  1910.147(d)(5) Stored energy.  1910.147(d)(5)(i) Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.  1910.147(d)(6) Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.  a)On or about August 31, 2025, the employer failed to ensure that all potentially hazardous stored energy was relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise rendered safe prior to maintenance of a boiler system. An employee was repositioning a belt on a pulley wheel connected to a fan and flywheel assembly in the boiler room. The fan retained residual mechanical energy due to inertia and air movement, and the employer had not implemented a method to stabilize the fan. As a result, employees were exposed to amputation hazards from unexpected movement of mechanical parts.