BELOIT, Wi. - A Wisconsin-based pallet maker has been cited by OSHA for exposing employees to too much wood dust.

 

In 2016, OSHA cited Avid Pallet Services for failing to implement sufficient engineering controls to limit dust exposure, as well as for failing to train employees on the health hazards of wood dust. It has now failed a follow-up inspection and has been cited $188,302 for repeated, serious, and other-than-serious safety and health violations.

 

Additional citations included failing to evaluate respiratory hazards, not medically evaluating and fit testing employees using respirators, failing to inform employees of their right to see exposure records, and failing to use adequate machine guarding on band saws.

 

“Employers are legally required to ensure that exposures to dust are properly evaluated and managed to protect employees from potential health hazards,” said OSHA’s Madison Area Office Director Chad Greenwood.

 

Avid Pallet has 15 business days to either comply, contest the findings, or request an informal conference with OSHA.