OSHA Inspection: BEST EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,784 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1):     When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.    (a)  North and South Bays - On or about August 22, 2012 employees working in the facility were subjected to sound levels exxceeding the action level of 85 decibles without the benefit of a sound survey.    DATE	JOB TITLE		DBA		MINUTES  08/23/12	Welder		87.9		472  06/23/12	Fitter		84.7		432  06/23/12	Laborer		91.2		434  06/23/12	Welder		86.6		413  06/23/12	Welder		86.1		422  06/23/12	Burner Operator	81.0		413

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Jan 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1):     The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.    (a)  Jobsite - On or about August 23, 2012 employees were exposed to noise levels exceeding the action level without the benefit of an audiometric testing program.     DATE	JOB TITLE		                DBA		MINUTES  08/23/12	Welder			87.9		472  06/23/12	Fitter			84.7		432  06/23/12	Laborer			91.2		434  06/23/12	Welder			86.6		413  06/23/12	Welder			86.1		422  06/23/12	Burner Operator	                81.0		413

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Dec 7, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1):     The employer shall 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 this section. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.    (a)  North and South Bays - On or about August 22, 2012 employees exposed to noise levels exceeding the action level had not been given training on the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose of hearing protectors and the purpose of audiometric testing.

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Nov 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,428 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(e)(9):     Grounding. Whenever flammable or combustible liquids are transferred from one container to another, both containers shall be effectively bonded and grounded to prevent discharge sparks of static electricity.    (a) Painting/Sandblasting Yard - On or about August 21, 2012 a flammable liquid, GBR 7090 Thinner was being dispensed from a grounded 55 gallon drum into unbonded metal container thereby exposing employees to the hazard of fire and explosion.

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Jan 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,784 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B)(1):     The employer must select a respirator for employee use that maintains the employee's exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the MUC.    (a)  Painting/Sandblasting Area - On or about September 13, 2012 two employees engaged in abrasive blasting were using Bullard Type CE Abrasive Blasting Hoods with an assigned protection factor of 1000. However the employee exposure to silica resulted in the assigned protection factor being exceed by 140 to 160 percent.

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Dec 10, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):     Table Z-3. An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Table Z-3, in any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week, shall not exceed the 8-hour time weighted average limit given for that substance in the table.    (a)    Painting/Blasting Area - On or about 9/13/2012 where an employee was engaged in abrasive blasting  in the sandblasting yard was overexposed to total silica dust at a concentration of 710.0 mg/m3 expressed as an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 1479 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.48 mg/m3 based on a 270 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero-increment for the 210 minutes not sampled.    (b)   Painting/Blasting Area - On or about 9/13/2012 where an employee was engaged in abrasive blasting in the sandblasting yard was overexposed to total silica dust at a concentration of 801mg/m3 expressed as an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 1668 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.48 mg/m3 based on a 290 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero-increment for the 190 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Nov 26, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):     Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or    (a)  Painting/Sandblasting Area - On or about August 21, 2012 an employee using a North half mask respirator had facial hair which would interfere with the sealing of the respirator.

Issued

Nov 13, 2012

Abate by

Nov 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i):     All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.    (a)  Painting/Sandblasting Area - On or about August 21, 2012 a North half mask respirator was being stored on the wall of the storage shed.