OSHA Inspection: R & R RESEARCH COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $832 Reduced

Hazardous substances 06890691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI).    R & R Research, Co, Inc., dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL, did not conduct an initial exposure determination for each employee exposed to hexavalent chromium in chrome plating operations , and did not perform initial exposure monitoring in accordance with section (d) of the standard.    a) An employee performing hand dipped chrome plating operations was exposed to hexavalent chromium at an 8-hour time-weighted average(TWA) level of .0019 mg/M3, about 76% of the Action Level of .0025 mg/M3, and 35% of the OSHA TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of .005 mg/M3, during a sample taken over a 250 minute period during one shift on August 22, 2012. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 230   minutes.    b) An employee performing hand dipped chrome plating operations was exposed to hexavalent chromium at an 8-hour time-weighted average level of .0011 mg/M3, about 44% of the Action Level of .0025 mg/M3, and 22% of the OSHA TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of .005 mg/M3, during a sample taken over a 231 minute period during one shift on August 22, 2012. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 249 minutes.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Jan 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $832 Reduced

Hazardous substances 06890691

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.    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co.,Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not ensure that employees used the appropriate personal protective equipment such as impermeable aprons, arm protection such as the long impermeable gloves or chemical resistant sleeves, face shields or chemical splash goggles where the hazards were present from skin or eye contact with hexavalent chromium at the plating tanks during hand dipping operations and the plating process.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $832 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(iv): Bags or containers of chromium (VI)-contaminated protective clothing or equipment were removed from change rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal; however, they were not labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200.    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not label the container with worn/used uniforms contaminated with hexavalent chromium with the identity of the contaminated contents and a health hazard warning in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1):The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information contained in items (i)-(iii):    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc.,Melrose Park,IL- the employer did not ensure that the containers of used, dirty uniforms contaminated with hexavalent chromium from the hard chrome plating slated to be washed by a laundry service were labeled with the information required in sections(f)(1)(i)-(iii) of paragraph (f) of the Hazard Communication standard entitled " labels and other forms of warning", requiring the following information to be provided on the label or tag:    (i) the identification of the chemical/product;  (ii) signal word, and  (iii) hazard statement/warning    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $832 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(3)(iii): The employer did not inform any person who laundered or cleaned protective clothing or equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the permissible exposure limit:    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J.Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park,IL- The employer did not notify their uniform service provider who launders the uniforms of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner that both reduces the release of airborn chromium (VI) and minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI).    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $832 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(4)(i): Wherever the employer allowed employees to consume food or beverages at a worksite where chromium (VI) was present, the employer did not ensure that eating and drinking areas and surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of chromium (VI):    a) R & R Research Co.,Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not ensure that the lunch room where workers take their breaks, eat & drink were maintained as free as practicable of hexavalent chromium. Wipe samples collected of both the lunch table and the refrigerator handle confirmed the presence of hexavalent chromium.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(4)(ii):The employer did not ensure that employees did not enter eating and drinking areas with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface chromium (VI) had been removed from the clothing and equipment by methods that do not disperse chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee's body:    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not ensure that employees did not enter the lunch room where they take breaks, eat & drink, with their protective work clothing or eq uipment unless the surface hexavalent chromium had been removed by methods that do not disperse it into the air or onto an employee's body. Wipe samples collected confirmed the presence of hexavalent chromium on both the lunch table and on the refrigerator door.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(1)(i): All surfaces are maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of chromium (VI).    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not ensure that all surfaces in the workplace are maintained as free as practicable of hexavalent chromium. Wipe samples collected at the QA/QC table next to plating lines 3 & 4 confirmed the presence of hexavalent chromium.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0691

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) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E. J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not provide information contained in Appendix D of the respirator regulation 29 CFR 1910.134 to employees who were provided respirators when such use was not required by the employer.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Jan 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E. J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that plating employees voluntarily using rubber half mask respirators with particulate filters was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 30, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 06890691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not make a copy of the Chromium (VI) standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026, readily available to all employees who were exposed to chromium (VI).    a) R & R Research Co., Inc. dba E.J. Somerville & Co., Inc., Melrose Park, IL- The employer did not make a copy of the hexavalent chromium standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026, readily available to all employees exposed to chromium(VI) in the workplace    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).