White Cedar Shingles Inc. has been cited for nine safety violations by OSHA after a worker was fatally injured May 21 while servicing machinery that had not been locked out to prevent unexpected startup. As a result of the inspection, OSHA has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP).
Mark Hysell, the agency's area director in Eau Claire, said the company was cited in 2012 for ailing to control hazardous energy by training workers on affixing machine lockout devices and failed to act on it.
Two willful violations were cited for failing to train workers authorized to perform servicing on equipment in hazardous energy control procedures and to control electrical energy sources by installing lockout/tagout devices during maintenance and cleaning of machinery.
Five serious violations involve failing to have guarding on power transmission flywheels and the power transmission belt on the edger; address a waste conveyer belt with visible damage on the belt edge; train and evaluate forklift operators; address a damaged electrical control button on the mill; identify disconnecting means for a mill and saw equipment; close unused openings on boxes, cabinets and fittings effectively; and install faceplates and covers on electrical boxes.
Two other-than-serious violations involve failing to install a midrail on a stairway and on a platform in the material area.
Proposed fines total $156,240.
The current citations may be viewed at www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/White_Ceader_Shingles_Inc_907778_11-06-13.pdf*
White Cedar Shingles Inc., a milling company that manufactures cedar shingles and boards, employs approximately 10 workers. Inspections of its facility in 2010, 2011 and 2012 resulted in 10 violations, including citations from 2012 for the lack of a lockout/tagout program and workers' training on the control of hazardous energy.
Due to the nature and severity of violations, the company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. OSHA's SVEP focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.
