OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN FIELD WELDING, LLC

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  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 or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to being pinned under, crushed, or thrown from a forklift truck.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011, and at times prior thereto, an older model with 'outbound train yard' markings, Hyster forklift, used for handling parts being sand blasted, was used without a seat belt.        (b)  Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011, and at times prior thereto, an older model, Clark forklift, used for handling parts being delivered to the Fabrication Shop, was used without a seat belt.     (c) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011, and at times prior thereto, an older model, propane powered Hyster 80 forklift, used for handling parts being sand blasted, was used without a seat belt.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level was not guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, fabrication, welding, and assembly of MBI tanker trailers where employees are working from 4-8 feet above a concrete floor with fall protection.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Aug 19, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblaster working for 275 minutes was exposed to an average sound level of 96.1 decibels and an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 92.1 decibels.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Aug 19, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1):  When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblaster working for 275 minutes was exposed to an average sound level of 96.1 decibels and an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 92.1 decibels.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jul 19, 2011

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use.    (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblasting room and emplyees working and wearing respiratory protection, in and around the room, where there were elevated levels of respirable silica dust.    (b) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, laborer cleaning up silica dust and wearing respiratory protection was operating the powered floor cleaner where there were elevated levels of respirable silica dust.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace and include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblasting room and emplyees working and wearing respiratory protection, in and around the room, where there were elevated levels of respirable silica dust.    (b) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, laborer cleaning up silica dust and wearing respiratory protection was operating the powered floor cleaner where there were elevated levels of respirable silica.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jul 20, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.      (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblasting room and emplyees working and wearing respiratory protection, in and around the room, where there were elevated levels of respirable silica dust.    (b) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, laborer cleaning up silica dust and wearing respiratory protection was operating the powered floor cleaner where there were elevated levels of respirable silica dust.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3):  The employee training did not include the requirements of sections (h)(3)(i)-(iv) of this paragraph.       (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblasting and employees working in the sandblasting room were not trained on the health hazards of silica dust.    (b) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, laborer cleaning up silica dust and wearing respiratory protection while operating the powered floor cleaner was not trained on the health hazards of silica dust.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):  Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.    (a)  Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, employees used compressed air nozzles to clean work surfaces and themselves without a means to reduce the pressure at the point of use.  Air pressure at the nozzle was greater than 90 p.s.i.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):  All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers identified for the purpose.      (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, open electrical box linked to Vari-Speed control box, employees were exposed to live conductors.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jul 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iii)(A):  Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.     (a) Fabrication shop; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, Sandblasting room exhaust fan mounted in the wall, was plugged in to an extension cord.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i):  Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket).      (a) Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, several shop extension cords had broken plugs and/or damaged insulation.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(ii):  Each lavatory was not provided with hot and cold running water, or tepid running water.     (a) Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, restroom was not provided hot water.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4):  The employer did not assure that portable fire extinguishers are maintained in a fully charged and operable condition.     (a) Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, fire extinguishers were not fully charged.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2):  Portable extinguishers or hose used in lieu thereof under paragraph (d)(3) of this section were not visually inspected monthly.     (a) Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, fire extinguishers with outdated inspection tags from July 16, 2004.

Issued

Jun 7, 2011

Abate by

Jun 28, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3):  The employer did not assure that portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check. The employer did not record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less.     (a) Fabrication and machine shops; on or about April 27, 2011 and at times prior thereto, where there were fire extinguishers with outdated inspection tags from July 16, 2004.