OSHA Inspection: HACO INC.

Issued

Apr 10, 1990

Abate by

Apr 13, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $315 Reduced

Issued

Apr 10, 1990

Abate by

Apr 13, 1990

Issued

Apr 10, 1990

Abate by

Apr 13, 1990

Issued

Apr 10, 1990

Abate by

Jun 13, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,620 · Current $1,134 Reduced

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 pesticide, terbufos, in
excess of the recommended ceiling and 8-hour permissible exposure
limits and the hazards of exposure to pesticides such as atrazine
and terbufos, air embolism, foreign matter entering the body
openings, and foreign matter being embedded in the skin.
a. A sealer on line No. 1 was exposed to terbufos at a ceiling
level of 0.3638 mg/m3, approximately 1.8 times the re-
commended permissible ceiling exposure limit of 0.2 mg/m3
and an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 0.2562
mg/m3, approximately 5.1 times the recommended 8-hour per-
missible exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3. These limits were
established to prevent cholinesterase inhibition and the
irritating effects of the organophosphate, terbufos. Sampl-
ing was conducted for 467 minutes on October 25, 1989. Zero
exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 13 minutes.
b. A filler on line No. 1 was exposed to terbufos at a ceiling
level 0.2248 mg/m3, approximately 1.1 times the recommended
permissible ceiling exposure limit of 0.2 mg/m3 and an
eight-hour time-weighted average, (TWA), of 0.1647 mg/m3,
approximately 3.3 times the recommended 8-hour permissible
exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3. These limits were established
to prevent cholinesterase inhibition and the irritating
effects of the organophosphate, terbufos. Sampling was
conducted for 408 minutes on December 6, 1989. Zero exposure
was assumed for the unsampled period of 72 minutes.
c. A box stacker on line No. 1 was exposed to terbufos at an
eight-hour time-weighted average, (TWA), of 0.1014 mg/m3,
approximately 2.0 times the recommended 8-hour permissible
exposure limit 0.05 mg/m3. This limit was established to
prevent cholinesterase inhibition and the irritating effects
of the organophosphate, terbufos. Sampling was conducted
for 417 minutes on December 6, 1989. Zero exposure was
assumed for the unsampled period of 63 minutes.
d. Employees on lines No. 1 and 4 were allowed to use compressed
air to clean foreign matter including atrazine, terbufos, and
other pesticides from their clothing and bodies thus exposing
them to the hazards of skin absorption of pesticides and
contact with compressed air and foreign matter.
Feasible and effective abatement can be expected to include, but
is not limited to:
1. Inspection, repair, and maintenance of the joints and
connections on the transfer piping.
2. Cleaning and decotamination of the line No. 1 mixing floor.
3. Development of an interlocking system for the automatic
bag hanger on line No. 1 to prevent discharge of the
pesitcide when the bag is not in place.
4. Repair and maintenance of the existing ventilation system
to ensure a continuous and unobstructed capture velocity
of at least 300 fpm.
5. Increase width of flanges on the slot exhaust system on
the bag sealer.
6. Enclose the back of the bag filler area.
7. Increase width of slots while still maintaining at least
300 fpm capture velocity.
8. Enclose conveyor on line No. 1 after bag sealing area.
9. Installation of a holding bin with a vacuum system equipped
with high efficiency and organic vapor filters to remove
spilled pesticide from line No. 1.
10. Assure that all spills are cleaned with vacuums equipped
with high efficiency and organic vapor filters.
11. Installation of an enclosed hood to be used for the filling
of bags in boxes during 20g operations. Bags should be
filled and sealed under the hood.
12. Installation of a banked ventilation system behind the bag
filling area of line No. 1
13. Discontinue use of compressed air for cleaning of personnel
and their clothing.
14. Remove the compressed air hose from line No. 4.
15. Place signs on line No. 1 prohibiting the use of compressed
air for the cleaning or personnel and their clothing.
16. Inform personnel of this policy.
17. Substitute an alternative cleaning method, such as
vacuuming.
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.
HACO, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational
Safety and Health Standard which was contained in OSHA Inspection
No. 101316123, Citation 3, Item Number 1a, issued on May 3, 1988.

Issued

Apr 10, 1990

Abate by

Apr 20, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

May 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $504 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death of serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to:
Employees entered confined spaces such as bins and mixers and
there was no comprehensive confined space entry program or
lockout procedures:
a. On or about October 30, 1989, employees entered a mixer,
a confined space, for cleaning purposes, and a minimal
confined space entry procedure as outlined in the abatement
methods wa not followed. There was no adequate lockout/-
tagout procedure including blanking and bleeding of pipes in
effect to protect the employees from possible overexposure to
toxic substances including pesticides such as chlorpyrifos and
diazinon and exposures to oxygen deficient atmospheres and
combustible gases.
b. On or about November 10, 1989, employees entered the tarbufos
bin, a confined space, for cleaning purposes and a minimal
confined space entry procedure as outlined in the abatement
methods was not followed to protect the employees from
possible overexposure to toxic substances including pest-
icides, such as tarbufos and exposures to oxygen deficient
atmospheres and combustible gases.
c. On or about November 13, 1989, the line number 2 formulator
entered the line number 2 mixer, a confined space, to change
the spray nozzle and a minimal confined space entry procedure
as outlined in the abatement methods was not followed. There
was no adequate lockout/tagout procedure including blanking
and bleeding of pipes in effect to protect the employee from
possible overexposure to toxic substances including pest-
icides, such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon and exposures to
oxygen deficient atmospheres and combustible gases.
d. On or about November 14, 1990, the line number 2 formulator
entered the line number 2 mixer, a confined space, to obtain
quality control samples and a minimal confined space entry
procedure as outlined in the abatement methods was not
followed. There was no adequate lockout/tagout procedure
including blanking and bleeding of pipes, in effect to
protect the employee from possible overexposure to toxic
substances including pesticides such as chlorpyrifos and
diazinon and exposures to oxygen deficient atmosphere and
combustible gases.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method
to correct these hazards could include:
a. Remove the ladder from inside the terbufos bin.
b. Cover the angle iron in the terbufos bin with a smooth
surface.
c. Install vibrators on the terbufos bin.
d. Use a vacuum equipped with a long wand to clean off
pesticide residue inside the bin.
e. Use a long handled ladle to obtain quality control samples
from the mixer.
f. Install a sampling box as described in the ACBIH Industrial
Ventilation manual to obtain quality control samples.
g. Use long handled pliers or other type of quipment grips
to change or unclog nozzles in the mixer.
2.      Institute a formal confined space entry program such as
stipulated by ANSI Z117.1-1977, American National Standard
of Safety Requirements for Working in Tanks and other Con-
fined Spaces. A minimally acceptable confined space entry
procedure consists of the following elements:
a. Written procedures covering a permit system, ventilation,
lockout/tagout atmospheric testing, rescue procedures, and
employee training.
b. Employees shall be required to obtain and post a written
authorization signed by a supervisor prior to confined space
entry (confined space entry permit). The permit shall
specify the location and type of work to be done and carti-
fies that all existing and potential hazards have been
evaluated by a qualified person and necessary protective
measures have been taken to ensure the safety of each worker.
c. Provide mechanical ventilation of the confined space prior
to entry and continued ventilation to provide a safe atmos-
phere when determined necessary as described in (b) above.
d. Test the confined space prior to entry and on a regular basis
as determined necessary as described in (b) above during
occupancy for the presence of at least 19.5% oxygen and/or
presence of toxic substances. Testing shall be conducted
during the same time for levels of flammable vapors, to be
maintained below 10% of the lower explosive limit. Measure-
ments shall be made with instruments calibrated daily accord-
ing to manufacturer's instructions. Instrument operators
shall be trained in the use and care of instruments.
e. Lockout and tagout procedures shall be used for any electr-
ical or mechanical equipment to which an employee in a
confined space could be exposed.
f. Personal protective equipment such as respiratory protection
shall be chosen and provided on the basis of testing and
monitoring. Users of this equipment shall be trained in its
limitations and use. Respiratory protection shall be used in
accordance with Section 1910.134 of 29 CFR 1910 General
Industry Standards.
Additional personal protective equipment such as gloves,
hard hats, disposable impermeable suits and eye protection
shall be chosen when determined necessary by the qualified
person.
g. Require a person to stand by for rescue outside the confined
space to be in immediate contact with the employee in the
confined space.
the machine. After switch off, assure that the electric
circuits are proven de-energized, a unique and situation
information tag shall be attached to the lock and machine
energizing control.
c. All other fluid energy power sources which can produce
movements of machine members shall be locked off. Pressur-
ized fluids (air or liquid) shall be closed off from the
machine through the use of shut off valves and blanks and the
supply lines toward the machine reduced in pressure to
atmosphere of the machine blocked against possible movement.
All pressure-fluid accumulators and air surge tanks within
the machine shall be reduced to atmospheric pressure or the
machine blocked against possible movement. All machine
temperature and pressure sensors and gauges shall be main-
tained to always provide an accurate status reading of the
machine.
d. All mechanical gravity fall potential energy within the
machine shall be reduced to zero, or as nearly so as
possible, by lowering elevated machine parts to the floor,
solid surfaces or by cribbing and blocking them to prevent
the machine parts from falling.
e. Establish written procedures outlining the complete
lockout/tagout program.
f. Establish written procedures designed to instruct and train
employees in recognition of hazards and proper safe shut
down of machines.
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.

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $504 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $441 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

May 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $441 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

May 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

May 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

May 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $347 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $432 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $486 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $432 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $432 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 2, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,260 · Current $630 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 29, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,440 · Current $792 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,620 · Current $891 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 30, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,260 · Current $630 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Mar 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $45 Reduced

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 16, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 16, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 16, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 16, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990

Issued

Mar 26, 1990

Abate by

Apr 30, 1990