OSHA Inspection: MFH ENVIRONMENTAL CORP

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,785

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2):  The employer did not initiate and maintain programs which provided for frequent and regular inspections of the job site, materials and equipment to be made by a competent person(s):  (a)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  The employer did not ensure a safety program was developed and implemented for the work environment to include regular inspections of the jobsite, materials, and equipment made by a competent person.  On October 18, 2011, the employer utilized a warning line system to prevent employees from approaching the open sided floor where the #4 air handling system was being removed.  This is an inadequate method of fall protection.  This condition exposed employees that were not removing the air handling system to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet.    OSHA defines a "competent person" as someone capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1):  Each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which was 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level was not protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:  (a)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  On and before October 18, 2011, the employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which was 6 feet or more above a lower level was protected from falling.  Employees conducted asbestos abatement activities throughout the main floor of the building.  A plastic warning line was placed approximately 10 feet from the open sided floor where the #4 air handling system was being removed.  This condition exposed employees other than those removing the air handling system to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.503(a)(1):  The employer did not provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards:  (a)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E. Evans Ave, Denver, CO  80208:  The employer had not established a training program to enable each employee to recognize and eliminate fall hazards while working near open sided floors.  On and before October 18, 2011, employees were permitted to work on the same elevated walking/working surface (main floor) where a warning line was set up approximately 10 feet from an open sided floor.  This condition exposed employees removing asbestos and the #4 air handling unit to a fall hazard of approximately 8 feet.  Abatement Note: The following training provisions supplement and clarify the requirements of 1926.21 regarding the hazards addressed in Subpart M of this part:   a) Training Program.   (1) The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.   (2) The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained, as necessary, by a competent person qualified in the following areas:   (i) The nature of fall hazards in the work area;   (ii) The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used;   (iii) The use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and other protection to be used;   (iv) The role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when this system is used;   (v) The limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs;   (vi) The correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection; and   (vii) The role of employees in fall protection plans;   (viii) The standards contained in this subpart.     b) Certification of training.   (1) The employer shall verify compliance with paragraph (a) of this section by preparing a written certification record. The written certification record shall contain the name or other identity of the employee trained, the date(s) of the training, and the signature of the person who conducted the training or the signature of the employer. If the employer relies on training conducted by another employer or completed prior to the effective date of this section, the certification record shall indicate the date the employer determined the prior training was adequate rather than the date of actual training.   (2) The latest training certification shall be maintained.     c) Retraining. When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (a) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:   (1) Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or   (2) Changes in the types of fall protection systems or equipment to be used render previous training obsolete; or   (3) Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(2)(i):  The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m) which covers each employee required by 29 CFR 1926.1101 to use a respirator:  (a)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  On and before October 18, 2011, the employer did not implement a written respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 for employees required to wear respirators while performing asbestos abatement activities.  The employer permitted employees to have facial hair while wearing half-mask elastomeric respirators and to incorrectly store respirators that were exposed to weather and miscellaneous debris.  The employer did not conduct fit tests for employees wearing powered air-purifying respirators.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with asbestos.  Abatement Note:  The written respiratory protection program must be in accordance with the General Industry standard for Respiratory Protection, 29 CFR 1910.134.  The following sections of the standard must be followed:  (1)  Definitions;  (2)  Written Respiratory Protection Program;  (3)  Selection of Respirators;  (4)  Fit Testing;  (5)  Use of Respirators;  (6)  Maintenance and Care of Respirators;  (7)  Breathing Air Quality and Use;  (8)  Identification of Filters, Cartridges, and Canisters;  (9)  Training and Information;  (10)  Program Evaluation; and,  (11)  Recordkeeping.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):  The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator was 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)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  On and before October 18, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator.  Employees conduct asbestos abatement activities such as, but not limited to, demolition and detail work.  Employees are required to wear powered air-purifying respirators.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with asbestos.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)[A]:  The employer permitted respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face:  (a)  MFH Enironmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  On October 21, 2011, the employer permitted one employee to wear a tight-fitting respirator with facial hair.  These employees wore a half-mask elastomeric respirator while completing clean-up work for asbestos abatement.  This condition potentially exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Feb 8, 2012

Abate by

Mar 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i):  Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  (a)  MFH Environmental Corp at 2150 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80208:  On October 21, 2011, the employer permitted an employee to improperly store a respirator so that it was not protected from contamination and weather.  A half-mask elastomeric respirator was observed on a bookshelf located outside next to the employer's trailer.  The respirator was not in a bag and was exposed to contamination and the weather.  This condition potentially exposed an employee to a respiratory hazard.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).