OSHA Inspection: KLOCKNER PENTAPLAST OF AMERICA, INC.

Issued

Nov 21, 2012

Abate by

Dec 18, 2012

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(2)(i):     The employer did not provide either a full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes or a combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply:    (a) E34:  Degradation of polyvinyl chloride material, which results in smoke containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride, occurred at the E34 extruder.  A response team member used a North full face air purifying respirator to enter the potential IDLH atmosphere to access and ventilate the area, as determined on June 26, 2012.      Note:  Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) means an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual's ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.     Abatement Certification Required for this Item.

Issued

Nov 21, 2012

Abate by

Dec 18, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):     When the employer was unable to identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH:    (a) E34:  Polyvinyl chloride material degraded in the extruder, which created carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride.  An employee responded to an emergency situation wearing a North air purifying respirator.  The employer was unable to estimate employee exposure and did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH, as determined on June 26, 2012.      Abatement Certification Required for this Item.

Issued

Nov 21, 2012

Abate by

Dec 18, 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) E34:  An employee wore a North full face air purifying respirator during an emergency response activity to the degradation of polyvinyl chloride material, which creates carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride.  The employee had a full beard while wearing the respirator, as determined on June 26, 2012.    Abatement Certification Required for this Item.