OSHA Inspection: ROLANDO'S WELDING & FABRICATING

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $757 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(5)(i):     Employer used respirators that were not approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under 42 CFR part 84 to protect employees from dusts produced during abrasive-blasting operations:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in the following instances:    a.  the Bullard abrasive blasting hood employees utilized to perform their sandblasting duties did not have an inner lens,    b.  the breathing tube assembly was duct taped to the blasting hood and the air conditioner.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $756 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a.  At this location, a pot tender was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 145.3% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold).  The equivalent noise level of this 145.3% exposure is approximately 92.6 dBA.  This exposure is 1.45 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose).  The noise sampling was conducted on June 22, 2012, for 250 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 230 minutes.    b. At this location, a sandblaster was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 580% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold).  The equivalent noise level of this 580% exposure is approximately 102.68 dBA.  This exposure is 5.80 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose).  The noise sampling was conducted on June 22, 2012, for 247 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 233 minutes.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $540 Reduced

Hazardous substances 811081119010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(h)(1):     The employer did not provide the protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), used to comply with this part, at no cost to employees:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees conducting fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting activities wore personal protective equipment (PPE), when performing work duties, which was paid for and supplied by the employees, such as, but not limited to the following:    a.  ear plugs;    b.  leather/canvas/rubber/latex gloves;    c.  safety glasses;    d.  equipment with filter lenses for protection against damaging light radiation;    e.  half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirators;    f.  and, abrasive blasting hood.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 811081119010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):     The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees engaged in fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting trailer tanks were exposed to hazards, such as, but not limited to, hearing loss, threshold hearing shift, silicosis, cancer, pulmonary distress, respiratory irritation, chemical burns, eye burns, and skin burns/abrasions/lacerations, requiring personal protective equipment (PPE), such as, but not limited to, ear plugs, respiratory protection, safety glasses, gloves, and filtered lenses.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $756 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2):     A respirator was not provided to each employee when such equipment was necessary to protect the health of such employee:     On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees performing sandblasting activities were required to wear an abrasive blasting hood and/or a half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirator in the following instances:    a.  An employee was exposed to airborne levels of Silica at 23 milligrams/cubic meter (8-hour time weighted average) while sandblasting trailer tanks.  This level is 35.012 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.4 milligrams/cubic meter.  Sampling was performed on June 22, 2012 during a normal work shift for a period of 249 minutes.  Zero exposure is assumed for the remaining 231 minutes.    b.  An employee was exposed to airborne levels of Silica at 0.7275 milligrams/cubic meter (8-hour time weighted average) while performing pot tender duties when sandblasting trailer tanks.  This level is 1.164 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.625 milligrams/cubic meter.  Sampling was performed on June 22, 2012 during a normal work shift for a period of 190 minutes.  Zero exposure is assumed for the remaining 290 minutes.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):     The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures in any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees engaged in sandblasting activities on trailer tanks were required to wear respiratory protection, such as, but not limited to, an abrasive blasting hood and half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirator.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $650 Reduced

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:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees were exposed to pulmonary and/or respiratory distress when they were required to wear respiratory protection, such as, but not limited to, an abrasive blasting hood and half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirators in the following instances:    a.  fabricating, repairing, modifying, painting, and welding trailer tanks;    b.  painting the interior and exterior of trailer tanks;    c.  sandblasting the interior and exterior of the trailer tanks.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1):     The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees wore half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirators in the following instances:    a.  fabricating, repairing, modifying, painting, and welding trailer tanks;    b.  painting the interior and exterior of trailer tanks;    c.  sandblasting the interior and exterior of the trailer tanks.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

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:     On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, the employer did not ensure employees wearing negative-pressure, tight-fitting, half-face respirators were free of facial hair prior to the employees wearing the respirators in the following instances:    a.  painting the interior and exterior of trailer tanks;    b.  sandblasting the interior and exterior of the trailer tanks.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $325 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1):  Respirators were not cleaned, disinfected, stored, inspected and repaired for employee's use:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees engaged in fabricating, repairing, modifying, painting, and welding trailer tanks voluntarily wore half-face, negative-pressure, tight-fitting respirators that were dirty and unsanitary in the following instances:      a.  employees painting interior and exterior of the trailer tanks;    b.  employees welding, cutting, and torching the trailer tanks.    The employer did not ensure respirators were cleaned and disinfected after each use to prevent worker exposure to chemical hazards and/or pathogenic hazards.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $540 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1)(i):     Potable water was not provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises and personal service rooms:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees involved in fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting activities were not provided potable water for drinking.  Employees work with hazardous chemicals and in a hot environment and are subject to heat stress.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $650 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(i):     Toilet facilities were not provided in accordance with TABLE J-1 of this Section:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees were not provided bathroom facilities by the employer.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(i):     Lavatory(s) were not made available:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees involved in fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, respirable crystalline silica, Hempalin Enamel 52140, 5700 General Purpose Lacquer Thinner,  Hempathane HS 55619, and Hempel's Curing Agent 97050.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iii):     Hand soap or similar cleansing agents were not provided:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees involved in fabricating, and repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, respirable crystalline quartz silica, Hempalin Enamel 52140, 5700 General Purpose Lacquer Thinner,  Hempathane HS 55619, and Hempel's Curing Agent 97050.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(iv):     Individual hand towels or sections thereof, of cloth or paper, air blowers or clean individual sections of continuous cloth toweling, convenient to the lavatories, were not provided:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees performing fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting activities were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, respirable crystalline silica, Hempalin Enamel 52140, 5700 General Purpose Lacquer Thinner, Hempathane HS 55619, and Hempel's Curing Agent 97050.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $650 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2):     The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees entered areas classified as permit spaces without prior knowledge of the dangers and/or hazards of the permit space areas, such as, but not limited to, the following instances:    a.  fabricating, repairing, modifying, and welding the interior of the trailer tanks;    b.  painting the interior of the trailer tanks; and,    c.  sandblasting the interior of the trailer tanks.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4):     When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees entered areas classified as permit spaces in the following instances:    a.  fabricating, repairing, modifying, and welding the interior of the trailer tanks;    b.  painting the interior of the trailer tanks; and,    c.  sandblasting the interior of the trailer tanks.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $440 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.:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees engaged in sandblasting activities used compressed air at more than 30 p.s.i. to blow off their respirable crystalline silica contaminated clothing.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $540 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(b):     Abrasive blast cleaning nozzle(s) were not equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees engaged in sandblasting activities were exposed to blasting injuries when the employees used a blast cleaning nozzle without a dead man switch.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $756 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):     Employees were exposed to Silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 10 milligrams/cubic meter listed in Table Z-3:    a.  An employee was exposed to airborne levels of Silica at 23 milligrams/cubic meter (8-hour time weighted average) while sandblasting trailer tanks.  This level is 35.012 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.4 milligrams/cubic meter.  Sampling was performed on June 22, 2012 during a normal work shift for a period of 249 minutes.  Zero exposure is assumed for the remaining 231 minutes.    b.  An employee was exposed to airborne levels of Silica at 0.7275 milligrams/cubic meter (8-hour time weighted average) while performing pot tender duties when sandblasting trailer tanks.  This level is 1.164 times the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.625 milligrams/cubic meter.  Sampling was performed on June 22, 2012 during a normal work shift for a period of 190 minutes.  Zero exposure is assumed for the remaining 290 minutes.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $540 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

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:    On or about June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, at this location, employees involved in fabricating, repairing, modifying, sandblasting, and painting activities were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as, but not limited to, respirable crystalline silica, Hempalin Enamel 52140, 5700 General Purpose Lacquer Thinner, Hempathane HS 55619, and Hempel's Curing Agent 97050.    The employer had not developed a program which would address labeling and other forms of warning on chemical containers, Material Safety Data Sheets, and employee information and training on the hazards associated with chemicals utilized at this site.    The written program must also contain the following:    a.  a list of all hazardous chemicals on site,    b.  the methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks involving chemicals, such as a spill,    c.  the hazards of chemicals contained in piping that is not labeled, and    d.  the method the employer will use to inform other employers (contractors) of the chemicals their employees might be exposed to while performing duties at this site.

Issued

Dec 21, 2012

Abate by

Jan 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(a):     A Log of all Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300), and/or the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, (OSHA Form 300-A), and/or the Injury and Illness Incident Report (OSHA Form 301), or equivalent forms, were not used by the establishment:    On June 22, 2012, and at times prior thereto, located at Rolando's Welding & Fabricating, Robstown, Texas, the employer did not maintain 300 logs for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.    An employee experienced two on-the-job injuries which were not recorded on an OSHA Form 300, OSHA Form 300-A, nor on an OSHA Form 301, in the following instances:    a.  The employee broke/fractured his arm/wrist when he fell from a ladder performing painting/sandblasting activities.    b.  The employee was struck by a chain and broke/fractured the same arm/wrist.