OSHA Inspection: DAWSON BROTHERS, INC.

Issued

Feb 13, 2013

Abate by

Mar 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1):     Within 10 calendar days after the abatement date, the employer must certify to OSHA (the Agency) that each cited violation has been abated, except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.    The employer did not provide the Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification of abatement as required for Citation #1, Items #1, #2, #3, #4, #5a, #5b, #5c, #5d, #7a, #7b & #7c.    29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1) requires certification that the abatement of the above violation is completed.

Issued

Feb 13, 2013

Abate by

Mar 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1):     The employer must submit to the Agency, along with the information on abatement certification required by paragraph (c)(3) of this section, documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.    The employer did not provide the Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification and documentation of abatement as required for Citation #1, items #6a, #6b, #6c.    29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1) requires certification and documentation that the abatement of the above violation is complete.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Aug 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(i): The spraying operations shall be so designed, installed and maintained that the average air velocity over the open face of the booth shall be not less than 100 linear feet per minute. Visible gauges or audible alarm or pressure activated devices shall be installed to indicate or insure that the required air velocity is maintained:    a) The average air velocity over the open face of the spray booth was less than 100 feet per minute (approximately 90 feet per minute).  The employees were exposed to injury and illness from spray painting operations using hazardous chemicals such as flammables and chromates.    b) The spray booth was not equipped with operational gauges, alarms, or devices to indicate or insure that the required velocity is maintained.  The booth manometer was not operational. The employees were exposed to injury and illness from spray painting operations using hazardous chemicals such as flammables and chromates.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(5): The use of solvents for cleaning operations shall be restricted to those having flashpoints not less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit; however, for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment, solvents having flashpoints not less than those normally used in spray operations may be used. Such cleaning shall be conducted inside spray booths and ventilating equipment operated during cleaning:    Employees were cleaning the spray finishing equipment using 2-Butanone (Methyl ethyl ketone), a Class 1B flammable liquid with a flashpoint of 16 degrees Fahrenheit, on the work bench outiside of the spray booth; no mechanical ventilation is in operation.  The employees were exposed to injury from ignition of flammable vapors.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.124(g)(2):  An emergency shower and eye-wash station was not provided for employees working with chemicals such as acids that may burn, irritate, or otherwise harm their skin and eyes while performing plating operations:     An operational emergency shower and eye-wash station was not provided for employees exposed to chemicals such as chromic acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide while performing plating operations.  The employees were exposed to skin and eye irriation and burns.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.124(h)(4): For employees who work with chromic acid, periodic examinations of their exposed body parts, especially their nostrils:    Periodic examinations were not provided for employees exposed to chromic acid while performing plating operations.  The employees were exposed to skin and nasal septum damage.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures which includes the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix), as applicable:    A written respiratory protection program had not been developed and implemented for employee(s) wearing a respirator while performing spray painting operations.  The employee(s) was exposed to skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer shall 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:    The employer had not provided a medical evaluation for employees using tight-fitting half-face respirators while performing spray painting operations.  The employees were exposed to hazards associated with respirator use.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): The employer shall provide each respirator user with a respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good working order. The employer shall ensure that respirators are cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of this section, or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness:    The employer did not ensure that the respirator used by the employee while performing spray painting operations was cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 or the procedures recommended by the manufacturer.  The employee was exposed to the hazards associated with using a respirator that is not clean, sanitary, and in good working order.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(i):  The employer shall establish a record of the qualitative and quantitative fit tests administered to an employee including: the name or identification of the employee tested; the type of fit test performed; the specific make, model, style, and size of the respirator tested; the date of the test; and, the results:    The employer did not establish and maintain records for fit tests administered to employees for the use of tight-fitting respirators when performing plating and painting operations.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Aug 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 ug/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA):    Am employee performing spray painting operations was exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of the permissible exposure limit.  The employee was exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI) exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Aug 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this section shall determine the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or paragraph (d)(3) of this section:    The employer had not determined the 8-hour TWA exposure for employees exposed to chromium (VI) while performing plating and painting operations.  The employees were exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI) exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Aug 9, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): Except as permitted in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) and paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, the employer shall use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) to or below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable, and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section:    The employer had not used engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) for employee(s) performing painting operations to levels at or below the PEL of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee(s) were exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI) exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1): The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):    The employer had not established a regulated area for employee(s) exposed to chromium (VI) at levels in excess of the PEL while performing painting operations.  The employee(s) were exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI) exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1): Where a hazard is present or is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI), the employer shall provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees, and shall ensure that employees use such clothing and equipment:    The employer did not provide personal protective clothing to employees exposed to skin contact with chromium (VI) while performing plating and painting operations.  The employees were exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI)exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(i): The employer shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the contents of 29 CFR 1910.1026 and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by 29 CFR 1910.1026(k):    The employer did not ensure that the employees exposed to chromium (VI) while performing plating and painting operations could demonstrate knowledge of the contents of 29 CFR 1910.1026 and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program.  The employees were exposed to illnesses associated with chromium (VI) exposure.

Issued

Jun 27, 2012

Abate by

Jul 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    The employer had not developed a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals while performing plating and painting operations.  The employees were exposed to illnesses associated with exposure to chemicals such as chromium (VI), chromic acid, and methyl ethyl ketone.