OSHA Inspection: TECHO-BLOC INCORPORATED

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,083 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible engineering controls were not utilized:  a) Hess Machine Block Check: An employee, Operator in Training, was exposed to continuous noise at 180.1 % of the permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 94.2 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 460 minute sampling period on July 26, 2012. Zero exposure was assumed for any unsampled time. The employer did not implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to reduce employee exposure to occupational noise, on or about July 26, 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

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,974 · Current $2,082 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):  a) Hess Machine Block Check: An employee, Operator in Training, was exposed to continuous noise at 193.2% of the permissiblel exposure  level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 94.7 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 460 minute sampling period on July 26, 2012. Zero exposure was assumed for any unsampled time. The employee was not trained on the effects of noise, on or about July 26, 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

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Nov 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,666 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, were not provided and used whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  a) Hess Machine #1: Employees required to remove wet cement from the hopper were not provided personal protective equipment for their arms and upper body, exposing employees to chemical burns, on or about July 10, 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

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,666 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05779010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer 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:  a) Production Area: Temporary employees were not provided information on the hazards of the chemicals in their work areas or the location of the material safety data sheets at the time of their initial assignment, exposing the employees to burns and respiratory disorders, on or about July 10, 2012.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Nov 8, 2012

Abate by

Dec 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05779010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  a) Production Area: Employees exposed to wet cement and silica dust were not provided training on the hazards of specific chemicals in their work area exposing the employees to chemical burns and respiratory disorders, on or about July 10, 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

Nov 8, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  a) Production Area: Temporary employees were allowed to wear dust masks voluntarily and were not provided Appendix D, on or about July 10, 2012.   No abatement certification or documentation required.