OSHA Inspection: STEELWIND INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $893 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1):     The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):    (a) On or around April 19, 2012, in the Fabrication Department, a worker who performed duties of attendant and fire watch, outside the entrance of the Walking Shoe confined space, was required to use a tight-fitting half-face respirator with P100 filters, but had not been previously fit tested for that respirator.  Because welding was being performed inside the Walking Shoe space, the attendant was potentially exposed to welding fumes which could adversely affect the respiratory system.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 5, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):     Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:    (a) On or around April 19, 2012, In the Fabrication Department, a worker acting as  attendant at the entrance to the Walking Shoe confined space had excessive facial hair which could interfere with the seal between the tight-fitting half-face respirator and the skin of the face.  Because two workers had entered into this space to perform welding, the attendant was potentially exposed to air contaminants such as welding fumes.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1):     The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:    (a) The evaluation that had been performed was inadequate and in some cases resulted in erroneous classification of spaces.  For example, in the employer's Confined space Entry Program, an appendix to that program entitled "Confined Space Summary" listed that the "Walking Shoe" as a non-permit confined space, but also listed hazards of that space  including "Potential Hazardous Atmosphere".   The classification of the "Walking Shoe" as a non-permit confined space was erroneous because, by definition (as defined in 29 CFR 1910.146), a non-permit confined space means a confined space that does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.  On April 12, 2012, when welders were working inside the Walking Shoe, OSHA monitoring  detected elevated carbon monoxide concentrations (at times in excess of 400 parts per million) inside that confined space.  Exposure to elevated concentrations of carbon monoxide constituted an atmospheric hazard capable of causing serious physical harm.  This atmospheric hazard was not eliminated by the use of supplied air respirators by these workers.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,488 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(4)(i):     All welding and cutting operations carried on in confined spaces were not adequately ventilated to prevent the accumulation of toxic materials or possible oxygen deficiency:    (a) On or around April 12, 2012, in the Fabrication Department, when workers were directed to enter and perform welding into the Walking Shoe confined space, no provision was made for ventilation to prevent accumulation of toxic substances, such as carbon monoxide, which was detected at levels in excess of 400 parts per million inside the space.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii):     The employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification:    (a) Workers were observed using a combination of a negative pressure respirator inside of a supplied air respirator.  The use of this combination of different types of respirators had not been approved by NIOSH and as such was an unapproved respirator assembly, which was not in compliance with the NIOSH certification for either respirator. In the Fabrication Department, for example, on or around April 12, 2012, a welder was observed wearing a N95 disposable dust mask respirator inside of a  supplied air welding helmet.

Issued

Jun 13, 2012

Abate by

Jul 5, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv):     The employer did not ensure that the person authorized to perform the necessary sorbent bed and filter changes filled out a tag indicating by the signature and date that maintenance changes were performed:    (a) Regarding the breathing air provided via oil lubricated screw compressors,for workers perfoming blasting and other operations (such welding inside the Walking Shoe), no tag was filled out to indicate that necessary maintenance had been done by the authorized worker at the proper frequency.