OSHA Inspection: K-PLUS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): Where respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee, or whenever required, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures as required by 1910.134 (c)(1)(i-ix):    a) During the period of approximately March 26, 2012 and April 26, 2012, at the above located workplace, employees working in confine spaces (railroad tank cars, tanks and vaults and other confined spaces) were required to wear full negative pressure air purifying respirator and atmosphere-supplying respirators.   The employer's written respiratory protection program did not include the following elements (as required by 1910.134 (c)(1)(i-ix)):     (1) Worksite-specific procedures for respirator selection.     (2) Worksite-specific respirator canister change schedule.      (3)  Worksite-specific procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    a) During the period of approximately March 26, 2012 and April 26, 2012, at the above located workplace, employees were required to wear full face air purifying respirators in confine spaces (railroad tank cars, tanks and vaults and other confined spaces). The employer did not have the worksite-specific exposure monitoring results necessary to properly select the level of respiratory protection.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5):  The employer did not test conditions in permit spaces to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry operations were conducted:    a) During the period of approximately March 26, 2012 through April 26, 2012, at the above located workplace employees were required to wear full face negative pressure respirators when they entered and cleaned confined spaces (railroad tank cars, tanks and vaults and other confined spaces). The employer did not determine the level of toxic chemicals in the space before entry.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(i): When servicing and/or maintenance was performed by a crew, craft, department or other group, the employer did not utilize a procedure that afforded the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device:    a) During the period of approximately March 26, 2012 and April 26, 2012, at the above located workplace, employees were required to lockout and enter confined spaces (railroad tank cars, tanks and vaults and other confined spaces). The company's two foremen had master keys for all the locks used for lockout. The use of the master keys did not afford the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tag out device. The employees were thereby exposed to hazards associated with uncontrolled energy.

Issued

Oct 1, 2012

Abate by

Oct 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(4)(i): The medical questionnaires were not administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee:    a) On or about May 3, 2012, at the company's office the employer did not keep the Respiratory Medical Evaluation Questionnaire, confidential.   The questionnaires were maintained in the company office with training records and other employment files.