OSHA Inspection: HYGIENE INDUSTRIES

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Aug 14, 1991

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jun 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8350

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:
Nonionizing radiation.
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ADGIH
standard at a frequency of 18 MHz in the electric field is 10472 V2/m2
per 0.1 hour period. On 1/16/91, In the screem room, the tandema front-
right operator was exposed to a nonionizing radiation level. From the
machine #5 heat sealer, of 58333 v2/m2 in the electric field for a 0.1
hour period. The heat seaier operated at a frequency of 18 MHz.
Excessive exposure to absorbed energy from radio frequencies can cause
reproductive damage. Immunosuppressive illnessess and cardiopulmonary
system disfunction.
A fessible method of abatement includes, but is not limited to, the
development of a Radiofrequency protection program which includes
the following:
1-Determin, through an effective industial hygiene monitoring
program, the work areas where employees are exposed to appreciable
levels of RF radiation.
2- Regulate the areas where employees are potentially exposed to
radiofrequencies.
-Access to the vicinity of RF heat sealers, where monitoring
shows that employees are exposed to RF energy, must be
limited to the operator and necessary personnel.
-Signs warning of appreciable RF energy exposure must be
posted in work areas where heat sealers are in operation.
3-Use engineering controls to reduce employee exposures.
-Control the emission of RF energy from RF heat sealers
using properly designed and installed shielding material.
The shielding should be placed on or around the equipment
so as to minimize occupational exposure due to emissions
of stray Rf energy. All shielding material shoud be
properly grounded. Shielded conductors should be used
for conveying RF current, and path impedance should be
minimized by using good conductor materials.
-The distance between the worker and the source of RF energy
emission should be maximized.
-The RF sealing and heating equipment should be electroni-
cally tuned 10 minimize the stray power emitted.
-whenever possible, equipment should be switched off when
not being used. Maintenance and adjustment of the equipment
should be performed only while the equipment is not in operation.
-Neutralize all energized connectors which may act as annennae
sources.
4-Train employees in the hazards of exposure to Radiofrequency
energy and in the elements of the RF protection program.

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $8,000 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

Jul 5, 1991

Penalty

Initial $8,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

May 21, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991

Issued

May 17, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991

Issued

May 16, 1991

Abate by

May 20, 1991