OSHA Inspection: COOLING TOWERS SYSTEMS, INC

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Class I liquids were dispensed into containers without electrically interconnecting the nozzle and the container:    a) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were dispensing acetone, toluene, and MEK from 55 gal drums into portable containers. The containers were not bonded and grounded, on or about 5/17/12.    b) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were dispensing resin classified as flammable. The containers were not grounded or bonded, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d): Flammable or combustible liquids were not drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container or portable tanks by gravity through an approved self-closing valve:    a) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were dispensing acetone, toluene, and MEK from 55 gal drums into portable containers. The metal drum did not have a self closing valve, on or about 5/17/12.    b) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were dispensing resin classified as flammable. The metal drum did not have a self closing valve, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).     Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employee was adding water to forklift batteries. A complete PPE hazard assesment had not been perfomed, on or about 5/17/12.a    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - An employee was required to check and add water to forklift batteries. Eye protection against corrosive chemical splash was not provided, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.    a) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were using acentone to clean surfaces. The use of hand protection was not enforced when using solvents to wipe surfaces, on or about 5/17/12.    b) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - An employee was required to check and fill forklift batteries with water. Proper hand protection against corrosivie chemical was not provided.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - An employee was required to check and add water to forklift batteries. An emergency eye wash station for flushing of the eyes in the event of a splash was not provided, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:    Cooling Tower Sytems, Inc. - The fire extinguishers provided at the site were inspected in March 2011 and due to be inspected in March 2012. The annual inspection had not been conducted, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    Cooling Tower Sytems, Inc. - Fire extinguishers were provided for incipient stage fires. Training on the use of fire extinguishers was not provided, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were using compressed air for cleaning surfaces. The pressure measured at the end of the air gun when dead end was 90 p.s.i., on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $280 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees handled chemical such as, but not limited to, acetone, MEK, toluene, paint, welding gasses and rods. A written hazard communication program had not been developed and implemented, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical in use:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Material Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous materials handled by employees were not maintained. MSDS for welding gasses and rods were not available, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i):     The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:    a) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - In the fill pack assembly area, one gallon containers containing glue, were not labeld, on or about 5/17/12.    b) Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - In the surplus storage area, an approximately 60 gal plastic drum containing waste oil, was not labeld, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - In the fill pack assembly area, one gallon containers containing glue mixed with flammable ingredients was not labeled with the hazard warnings, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees handled chemical such as, but not limited to, acetone, MEK, toluene, paint, welding gasses and rods. Information and training as required by this section was not provided, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 11, 2012

Abate by

Oct 24, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. - Employees were required to use half mask, tight fitting respirators while applying glue and during spray painting operation. A respiratory protection program to include medical evaluation, fit test, and training, was not developed and implemented, on or about 5/17/12.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).