OSHA Inspection: POTTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,120 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00402590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):     The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not assure that employees received a medical evaluation prior to requiring the use of a respirator.  Employees were utilizing a 3M half-face cartridge style respirator to protect them from being potentially exposed to organic vapors such as, but not limited to, Acetone and Xylene while performing painting operations.  A respirator can place a burden on an employees cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i):     The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not assure that employees who operate the Toyota forklifts completed a training program and received a performance evaluation.  The employees use the lifts to carry products throughout the facility and to load and unload trucks.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040108024602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):     A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program to address the selection, maintenance, storage, and use of respirators.  Employees performing painting operations were required to wear a 3M half-mask tight-fitting respirators equipped with organic vapor cartridges.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040108024602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):     Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not assure employees who wore a half-face respirator were fit tested to ensure proper fit and effectiveness of the respirator.  Employees were utilizing a 3M half-face cartridge style respirator to protect themselves from being potentially exposed to organic vapors such as but not limited to Xylene, Toluene, and Ethyl benzene while performing painting operations.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040108024602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):     The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of items in (i)-(vii):    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not assure that employees were trained in the proper use of respirators such as required by 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i)-(vii).  Employees did not receive training prior to wearing a half-face cartridge style respirator.  Employees were utilizing a 3M half-face cartridge style respirator to protect them from being potentially exposed to organic vapors such as, but not limited to, Acetone and Xylene while performing painting operations.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not develop a written hazard communication program to describe how labels and other forms of warning shall be utilized and how employee information and training on the hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, paints and thinners.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):     The employer did not maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace:    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not have material safety data sheets in the workplace for the hazardous products such as, but not limited to, paints and thinners.

Issued

Jul 25, 2012

Abate by

Sep 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):     Employers 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 and chemical-specific information was not always available through labels and material safety data sheets.    a)  Potter Technologies, Inc. - On or about June 20, 2012, the employer did not provide information and training to employees in the safe handling and use of hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, paints and thinners.  Employees were not aware of the PPE requirements, first aid measures, and potential health effects of exposure to these chemicals.