OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL GYPSUM COMPANY

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(iv):     The employer used the scheduled monitoring option, and monitoring revealed employee exposures to chromium (VI) to be above the permissible exposure limit; however, the employer did not perform periodic monitoring at least every three months:    For the employees conducting maintenance tasks such as, but not limited to, plasma torch cutting stainless steel on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure periodic monitoring of at least every 3 months was conducted after an inital exosure determination of 0.25mg/m3 for an 8 hours time weighted average was detected in the maintenance area at the cutting table by a private consultant.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(i):     Within 15 working days after making an exposure determination in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2) or 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(3), the employer either did not post the results in an appropriate location that was accessible to all affected employees, or did not notify each affected employee individually in writing of the results:    For the employees working in maintenance, plasm torch cutting stainless steel on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide the results of the exsposure of .25mg/m3 for an 8 hour time weighted average reported by a private consultant within 15 work days.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(ii):     The exposure determination indicated that employee exposure to chromium (VI) was above the permissible exposure limit; however, the employer did not describe in the written notification the corrective action being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit:    For the employees plasma torch cutting stainless steel on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not develop and notify employees identified with an exposure of .25mg/m3 for an 8 hours time weighted average of the corrective action to be taken to reduce or eliminate the over exposure.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1):     The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) is, or could reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL:      For the employees plasma torch cutting stainless steel in the maintenance area on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not define boundaries of the area to be regulated as having airborne concentrations of chromium VI in excess of the PEL of 0.05mg/m3 for an 8 hour time weighted average as identified during an industrial hygiene survey conducted by a private consultant.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(2):     The employer required respirator use for protection against chromium (VI); however, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with the Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, which covers each employee required to use a respirator:    For the employees plasma torch cutting stainless steel in the maintenance area on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not develop and implement a respiratory protection program after determining employees were exposed to airborn concentrations of chromium VI at 0.25mg/m3 for an 8 hour time weighted average.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1):     Where hazards were present or were likely to be present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI), the employer did not provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees, and did not ensure that employees used such clothing and equipment:      For the employees plasma torch cutting stainless steel in the maintanence area on or about June 28, 2012 and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide protective clothing to ensure that employees were protected from contact with fuming metal that may contain chromium VI.

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(3)(i):     Readily accessible washing facilities capable of removing chromium (VI) from the skin were not provided by the employer at a worksite with chromium (VI) exposures:      For the employees working in the mainenance area plasma torch cutting stainless steel on or about June 28, 2012, the employer did not provide a separate wash facility for employees that was located for immediate use and before entering other areas of the facility after plasma torch cutting stainless steel that contains chromium VI .

Issued

Aug 3, 2012

Abate by

Sep 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(i):     The employer did not provide a medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment:    For the employees working in the maintenance area plasma torch cutting stainless steel on or about June 28, 2012,  The employer did not provide employees a medical examination within 30 days after the initial exposure determination for chromium VI conducted by a private consultant was found in excess of the PEL of 0.05mg/m3 for an 8 hour time weighted average.