OSHA Inspection: SYNCHEM, INC.

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,260 Reduced

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 was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    a) On or about September 13, 21 and 22, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees required to wear respiratory protection, including Scott half-mask respirators equipped with combination filter-cartridge pairs and Uline S-9632 N95 filtering facepieces, were provided with a medical evaluation to determine their ability to use a respirator.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):     The employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter:    a) On or about September 13, 21 and 22, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees required to wear respiratory protection, including Scott half-mask respirators equipped with combination filter-cartridge pairs and Uline S-9632 N95 filtering facepieces, were fit tested.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,260 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):     The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    a) On or about September 13, 21 and 22, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees required to wear respiratory protection, including Scott half-mask respirators equipped with combination filter-cartridge pairs and Uline S-9632 N95 filtering facepieces, were provided appropriate training.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Jul 31, 2012

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1450(d)(1):     The employer did not measure the laboratory employee's exposure to a substance regulated by a standard which required monitoring when there was reason to believe that exposure levels for that substance routinely exceeded the action level or in the absence of an action level, the permissible exposure limit:    a) On or about September 13 and 21, 2011 and October 11, 2011, the employer did not determine the methylene chloride (dichloromethane) exposures of chemists when there was reason to believe the exposure levels for this substance routinely exceeded the action level.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Penalty

Initial $510 · Current $357 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1450(e)(3)(vii):     The employer's Chemical Hygiene Plan did not include the designation of personnel responsible for implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan, including the assignment of a Chemical Hygiene Officer; and when appropriate, establishment of a chemical hygiene committee:    a) The employer did not assign an individual as the Chemical Hygiene Officer for the purpose of providing technical guidance in the development and implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Hygiene Plan.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Jan 3, 2012

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1450(e)(4):     The employer did not review and evaluate the effectiveness of the Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually and update it as necessary:    a)  The employer did not review and evaluate the effectiveness of the facility's Chemical Hygiene Plan at least annually.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Dec 2, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1450(f)(3)(i):     The employer did not inform employees of the contents of this standard and its appendices:    a) The employer did not inform laboratory employees of the contents of OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard, 29 CFR 1910.1450, and its appendices.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 17, 2011

Abate by

Dec 2, 2011

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1450(f)(3)(iii):     The employer did not inform employees of the permissible exposure limits for OSHA regulated substances or recommended exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals where there was no applicable OSHA standard:    a) The employer did not inform laboratory employees who work with hazardous chemicals of the permissible exposure limits for OSHA regulated substances or recommended exposure limits for other hazardous chemicals where there was no applicable OSHA standard.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).