OSHA Inspection: ERM- WEST, INC.

Issued

2012-04-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-04-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

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; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants, chemical state and physical form:     a)  On or about January 31, 2012 and at times prior, ERM-West, Inc. as controlling/exposing employer, did not ensure that its employees and subcontractor employees were protected from illness.  The respiratory hazards associated with work on the pyridine rail car (N84:6) were not effectively evaluated in that, specific contaminants (other than benzene, including but not limited to pyridine) were not identified nor was a reasonable estimate made of employee exposure to these specific contaminants in the work area.  Monitoring of the work area was conducted with a PID meter that yielded exceedingly high readings (up to 9999 ppm) yet work was continued in this area with air purifying respirators as protection for employees without identifying and evaluating the specific contaminant(s) causing these high levels and determining whether air purifying respirators were appropriate for this work.

Issued

2012-04-06 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-04-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(3)(i)(A): The employer did not select and provide to employees the appropriate respirators specified in 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A):    a)  On or about January 23, 2012 and at times prior, ERM- West, Inc. as controlling/exposing employer, did not ensure that employees and subcontractor employees were protected from illness in that employee exposure to benzene was not effectively evaulated, particularly during work on the benzene rail cars (N84:3, N84:4 and N:84:6), and did not ensure that respirators were selected and provided based on that information.  Monitoring was conducted in the work area with a PID meter that yielded exceedingly high readings (up to 9999 ppm) yet work was continued in this area with air purifying respirators as protection for employees without identifying and evaluating the specific contaminant(s) causing these high levels and determining whether air purifying respirators were appropriate for this work.