OSHA Inspection: SIGMA-ALDRICH CORPORATION

Issued

May 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,975 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1):     On every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official were not marked on plates of approved design and securely affixed in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate.    Items including but not limited to an air compressor unit and empty shipping containers were stored above the molecular biology laboratory. The structure was not marked with its approved load.

Issued

May 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $2,380 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):     Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:    A platform along the southern side of the tanks in the tank farm area was not guarded by a standard railing in that the railing did not have a midrail.

Issued

May 24, 2012

Abate by

Jun 15, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,975 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1):     The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.    a. An employee working in the centrifuge area of area A and area B was exposed to noise at 109.6% of the permissible exposure limit (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA). The Sampling time was 7 hours, 22 minutes with the remaining 38 minutes considered as zero exposure. This employee was not given an annual audiometric examination.    b. An employee working in the centrifuge area of area A and area B was exposed to noise at 73.83% of the permissible exposure limit. Sampling time was 7 hours, 17 minutes with the remaining 38 minutes considered as zero exposure. This employee was not given an annual audiometric examination.

Issued

May 24, 2012

Abate by

Jun 15, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,785 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i):     Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment    a. An electrical box in the shipping/receiving area was missing a knockout.    b. An electrical box in the break room for employees working in Areas A and B  was missing a knockout.

Issued

May 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):     Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.    A plumbed emergency eyewash in Area B was not maintained in compliance with ANSI Z358.1-1998 for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment in that the emergency eyewash unit was not activated weekly to verify proper operation.