OSHA Inspection: MICHELMAN-CANCELLIERE IRON WORKS

Issued

Aug 22, 2012

Abate by

Oct 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1):     When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    a) Welding Area: An employee, Grinder, while grinding structural steel, was exposed to continuous noise at 138.9% of the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 93.2 dBA.  This exposure was observed over a 458 minute sampling period on 06/27/2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 22 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls for employees exposed above the 8-hour time weighted average of 100% of the PEL or 90dBA, on or about 06/27/2012.      Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to:  1. Job Rotation  2. Noise suppressor on air grinder or replace grinders with low noise grinders  3. Replace grinding wheels with low noise wheels  4. Install noise dampening curtains around grinding area to block ambient noise  5. Install vibration reduction mats to reduce metal on metal vibrations.    ABATEMENT STEPS ARE AS FOLLOW:    STEP 1 - As an interim protective measure and when administrative or engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of table G-16, effective hearing protection shall be provided and used by all exposed employees.  In addition, an effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) shall be maintained.    STEP 2 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to noise as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1.  Evaluation of engineering control options;    2.  Selection of optimum control method and completion of design;    3.  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;    4.  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Ninety (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.    STEP 3 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Aug 22, 2012

Abate by

Oct 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6):     New audiogram were not obtained annually for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :    a) Welding Area: An employee, Grinder, while grinding structural steel, was exposed to continuous noise at 157.6% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 93.2 dBA and annual audiograms were not obtained, on or about 6/27/2012. This exposure was observed over a 458 minute sampling period on 6/27/2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 22 minutes not sampled.      b) Welding Area: An employee, Welder, while arcing and grinding structural steel, was exposed to continuous noise at 146.0% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 92.7 dBA and annual audiograms were not obtained, on or about 6/27/2012. This exposure was observed over a 424 minute sampling period on 6/27/2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 56 minutes not sampled.    	  c) Welding Area: An employee, Cutter, while operating a plasma cutter and drill, was exposed to continuous noise at 92.34% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 89.4 dBA and annual audiograms were not obtained, on or about 6/27/2012.  This exposure was observed over a 462 minute sampling period on 6/27/2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 18 minutes not sampled.      Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Aug 22, 2012

Abate by

Oct 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 17502460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5):     Respiratory protection retraining was not conducted annually:    a) Painting Area: Two employees, Painters, wear a 3M full face respirator with organic vapor cartridges fitted with a spray filter while spray painting with Carbothane and Urethane Converter 8800 and the employer did not perform annual training on the use of the respirator, on or about 06/20/2012.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Aug 22, 2012

Abate by

Oct 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 17502460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):     Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:    a) Painting Area: Two employees, Painters, wear a 3M full face respirator with organic vapor cartridges fitted with a spray filter while spray painting with Carbothane and Urethane Converter 8800 and the employer did not perform annual fit testing, on or about 06/20/2012.      Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Aug 22, 2012

Abate by

Oct 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):     Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:    a) Painting Area: An employee, Painter, wore a 3M full face respirator while spray painting with Carbothane and Urethane Converter 8800 and the employee had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face, on or about 06/20/2012.      Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.