OSHA Inspection: HOPKINS AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL CO.

Issued

1988-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $640.00 · Current $330.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 27202333

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
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employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
The hazard of inhalation of the toxic pesticides diazinon and
terbufos, in excess of the recommended exposure limits for the
mixture, the individual recommended limits for each substance,
and the ceiling limits for the terbufos.
a) The diazinon formulator was exposed to diazinon at an eight-hour
time-weighted average level of 0.2487 milligrams per cubic meter
(mg/m3) approximately 2.5 times the threshold limit value of 0.1
mg/m3. He was also exposed to a mixture of diazinon and terbufos
approximately 2.6 times the recommended exposure limit for this
mixture. The recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbufos
are 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and 0.05 mg/m3,
respectively. These limites were established to prevent the
respiratory sensitization, cholinesterase inhibition, and irritating
effects of the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos.
Sampling was conducted 373 minutes on January 21, 1988.
The unsampled period of 107 minutes was assumed to be zero exposure.
b) The counter formulator was exposed to terbufos at a ceiling level of
0.2523 mg/m3, approximately 1.4 times the permissible ceiling
exposure limit of 0.2 mg/m3 and an eight-hour time-weighted average
of 0.2271 mg/m3 approximately 1.4 times the threshold limit value
of 0.05 mg/m3. He was also exposed to a mixture of diazinon and
terbutos approximately 4.6 times the recommended exposure limit for
this mixture.
The recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbutos are 0.1
mg/m3 and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively. These limits were established to
prevent the respiratory sensitization, cholinesterase inhibition, and
irritating effects of the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos.
Sampling was conducted for 432 minutes on January 28, 1988.Zero
exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 48 minutes.
c) The counter sealer was exposed to terbufos at an eight-hour time-
weighted average (TWA) of 0.1047 mg/m3, approximately 2.1 times the
recommended TWA of 0.05 mg/m3. He was also exposed to a mixture of
diazinon and terbufos approximately 2.1 times the recommended
exposure limit for this mixture. The recommended exposure limits for
diazonon and terbufos are 0.1 mg/m3 and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively.
These limits were established to prevent the respiratory
sensitization cholinesterase inhibition, and irritating effects of
the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos. Sampling was conducted
for 404 minutes on January 21, 1988. Zero exposure was assumed for
the unsampled period of 76 minutes.
d) The counter sealer was exposed to terbufos at a ceiling level of 0.23
mg/m3, approximately 1.2 times the permissible ceiling exposure limit
of 0.2 mg/m3 and an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 0.1969
mg/m3, approximately 3.9 times recommended TWA of 0.05 mg/m3. He was
also exposed to a mixture of diazinon and terbufos approximately 4.0
times the recommended exposure limit for this mixture. The
recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbufos are 0.1 mg/m3
and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively. These limits were established to
prevent the respiratory sensitization cholinesterase inhibition, and
irritating effects of the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos.
Sampling was conducted for all 411 minutes in January 21, 1988. Zero
exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 69 minutes.
e) The counter sealer was exposed to terbufos at an eight-hour time-
weighted average (TWA) of 0.0632 mg/m3, approximately 1.3 times the
recommended TWA of 0.05 mg/m3 a mixture of diazinon and terbufos
approximately 1.3 times the recommended exposure limit for this
mixture. The recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbufos
are 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and 0.05 mg/m3,
respectively. These limtis were established to prevent the
respiratory sensitization cholinesterase inhibition and irritating
effects of the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos. Sampling was
conducted 449 minutes on January 28, 1988. Zero exposure was assumed
for the unsampled period of 31 minutes.
f) The counter packer was exposed to terbufos at a ceiling level of
0.25 mg/m3, approximately 1.3 times the permissible ceiling exposure
limit of 0.2 mg/m3 and eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.2297
mg/m3, approximately 4.6 times the recommended TWA of 0.05 mg/m3. He
was also exposed to a mixture of diazinon and terbufos approximately
4.6 times the recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbufos
are 0.1 mg/m3 and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively. These limits were
established to prevent the respiratory sensitization cholinesterase
inhibition, and irritating effects of the organophosphates, diazinon
and terbufos. Sampling was conducted for 441 minutes on January 28,
1988. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 39
minutes.
g) The counter packer was exposed to terbufos at an eight-hour time-
weighted average of 0.1913 mg/m3, approximately 3.8 times the
recommended TWA of 0.05 mg/m3. He was also exposed to a mixture of
diazinon and terbufos approximately 3.9 times the recommended
exposure limit for this mixture.
The recommended exposure limits for diazinon terbufos are 0.1 mg/m3
and 0.05 mg/m3, respectively. These limits were established to
prevent the respiratory sensitization cholinesterase inhibition, and
irritating effects of organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos.
Sampling was conducted for 439 minutes on January 28, 1988. Zero
exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 41 minutes.
h) The diazinon sealer was exposed to diazinon at an eight-hour time-
weighted average of 0.111 mg/m3, approximately 1.1 times the
recommended TWA of 0.1 mg/m3 a mixture of diazinon and terbufos
approximately 1.2 times the recommended exposure limit for this
mixture. The recommended exposure limits for diazinon and terbufos
are 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and 0.05 mg/m3,
respectively. These limits were established to prevent the
respiratory sensitization cholinesterase inhibition, and irritating
effects of the organophosphates, diazinon and terbufos. Samping was
conducted 444 minutes on January 28 1988. Zero exposure was assumed
for the unsampled period of 36 minutes.
Feasible and effective abatement can be expected to include, but is
not limited to:
1) Replacement and maintenance of the seals on the mixers.
2) Inspection, repair, and maintenance of the joints and connections on
the transfer piping.
3) Maintenance of negative pressure in the mixers.
4) Development and use of alternate quality control sampling techniques
not requiring direct employee exposure.
5) Cleaning and decontamination of the counter mixing floor.
6) Development of an interlocking system for the automatic bag hanger on
the counter line to prevent discharge of the pesticide when the bag
is not in place.
7) Repair and maintenance of the existing ventilation system to ensure a
continuous and unobstructed exhaust rate of at least 200 fpm.
8) Installation of a slotted, flanged exhaust system along the length of
the bag hanger and sealer on the counter line. Enclose the remaining
length of the conveyor.
9) Modification of the counter conveyor line to minimize the number of
bags damaged.
10) Installation of a holding bin with a vacuum system equipped with
high efficiency filters to remove spilled pesticide on the counter
line.
11) Enclosure of the diazinon mixer.
12) Installation of slotted ventilation system at the raw material entry
point at the diazinon screw conveyor.
13) Assure that all spills are cleaned with vacuums equipped with high
efficiency filters.
Disclaimers:
a) The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested
by OSHA.
b) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in
all cases.
c) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate abatement method.
STEP 1: - Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used
by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be
implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee
exposure to within permissible exposure limits.
STEP 2: - Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of
engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee
exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this
citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates
for the following actions which must be consistent with the
abatement dates required by this citation:
1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;
2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;
3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;
4) Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular
use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically
qualified person. Ninety (90) day progress reports are required
during the abatement period.
STEP 3: - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon
verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

1988-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-06-16 00:00:00

Issued

1988-05-03 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-10 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-04-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $350.00 · Current $179.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $640.00 · Current $327.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-04-20 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-19 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-04-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $640.00 · Current $327.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-19 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-06-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $350.00 · Current $179.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $350.00 · Current $179.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $350.00 · Current $179.00 Reduced

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-05-06 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-15 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-04-20 00:00:00

Issued

1988-04-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1988-08-31 00:00:00