Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LIFTING

ORS654.010: The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was safe and healthful for employees, and did not do every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, safety, and health of the employees: (a) During the recent Accident Investigation at your place of employment it was noted that the In-feed conveyor system involved in the accident has been under the process of remodel and re- design for quite some time. Throughout this process injuries have occurred and the propensity of other injuries occurring is of serious concern to OR-OSHA. Until the conveyor remodel is completed some employees are still exposed and liable to fall on the conveyor, (even with Fall Protection and/or guardrails), therefore OR-OSHA requires you to do something to correct this issue. Those injuries that are being sustained while clearing jams on the deck of the conveyor system are from slips, trips, and falls against the metal decks and barriers which amount to fractures, bruises, cuts, and contusions primarily due to pickeroon use, i.e., improper or excessive force applied with the pickeroon causing it to dislodge suddenly, and the person falling to the deck or over the side. During the interim period of remodel, replacement and redesign of the conveyor system, the employer must implement alternative measures in which to clear log jams on the conveyor and especially at the section known as 4/5 and 5/6. These methods must include further training on the use of the pickeroon (pressure limitations, strippage, materials densities, etc). You may also use a crane or other lifting device/mechanism which would eliminate exposure to the employee and the additional need for Fall Protection and other preventative measures at any and all other locations when identified by a hazard assessment of the area. You must take immediate action to reduce and eliminate these types of injuries from occurring. Even the addition of fall protection as required by item 2-2 of your citation, it will not eliminate the types of injuries outlined in this document. In addition you may submit a re-engineering plan for the conveyor system along with a request for additional time in which to achieve compliance. The plan must be designed to reduce all exposures as outlined in this document and the corresponding citation and shall include dates for the final implementation of the re-engineering and details of required interim personal protection measures.