OSHA Inspection: PANTHERA PAINTING, INC.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.57(f)(5)(ii)(C):  Abrasive-blasting respirators are not worn by all abrasive-blasting operators where concentrations of toxic dust dispersed by the abrasive blasting may exceed the limits set forth in 1926.55 or other pertinent sections of 29 CFR 1926.57 and the nozzle and blast are not physically separated from the operator in an exhaust ventilated enclosure:    (a) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive-blasting respirators are worn by all abrasive blasting operators where concentrations of toxic dust dispersed by the operation may exceed the limits set forth in 1926.55 or pertinent sections of 1926.57.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee blasted shoes containing lead paint. The operator blasted while wearing a hard hat with a shield taped to it but no respirator for a 1/2 hour and later had a helment lowered to him without an air line attached.  Without the airline attached the employee nearly suffocated and had to take it off. To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees wear abrasive blasting respirators when they perform abrasive blasting operations.     (b) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive-blasting respirators are worn by all abrasive blasting operators where concentrations of toxic dust dispersed by the operation may exceed the limits set forth in 1926.55 or pertinent sections of 1926.57.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee blasted a concrete surface where new paint had spilled.  The employee used a small 8 bag blasting "pot" tied to the bed of a stake truck.  The operator was not wearing an abrasive blasting hood, he had a tee shirt over his face. To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees wear abrasive blasting respirators when they perform abrasive blasting operations.     (c) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive-blasting respirators are worn by all abrasive blasting operators where concentrations of toxic dust dispersed by the operation may exceed the limits set forth in 1926.55 or pertinent sections of 1926.57.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee blasted plates and shoes without an abrasive blasting hood. To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees wear abrasive blasting respirators when they perform abrasive blasting operations.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(f)(1): For employees who use respirators required by 29 CFR 1926.62, the employer does not provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.62(f):    (a) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not provide employees exposed to lead above the PEL with an appropriate respirator.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee without a respirator was exposed to the dust from abrasive blasting operations when he used glass bead media to blast shoes which contained lead paint with only a hard hat with a shield taped to it.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees who are exposed to lead dust in excess of the PEL wear an appropriate respirator.     (b) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not provide employees exposed to lead above the PEL with an appropriate respirator.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee was exposed to dust containing lead paint from grinding and blowing down while working from a snooper in a tooth dam. The employee could not find new respirator cartridges so he wore old ones and tied his shirt over his face. To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees who are exposed to lead dust in excess of the PEL wear an appropriate respirator.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.57(f)(5)(v)(B): The employer does not supply to the operator and any other personnel working in the vicinity of abrasive-blasting operations, equipment for protection of the eyes and face when the respirator design does not provide such protection and/or the equipment does not conform to the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.102:    (a) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that employees who are exposed to the dust from abrasive blasting operations wear equipment for protection of their eyes and face. This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where employees used brooms and shovels to sweep up the blast media in the vicinity of an employee who was performing abrasive blasting to clean off spilled paint from the bridge.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees are provided with respirators designed to protect the eyes and face.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.302(b)(10): Abrasive blast cleaning nozzles are not equipped with an operating valve which must be held open manually:    (a)  George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive blasting nozzles are equipped with an operating "dead-man" valve which must be held open manually.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee blasted a concrete surface where new paint had spilled.  The employee used a small 8 bag blasting pot tied to the bed of a stake truck. The vacuum switch for the abrasive blasting nozzle was pinched off so there was no "dead man" control, he communicated with the pot tender using hand signals when he wanted to start and stop blasting.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees are provided with abrasive blasting nozzles with operating "dead-man" switches.    (b) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive blasting nozzles are equipped with an operating "dead-man" valve which must be held open manually.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012  on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where an employee without a respirator blasted shoes coated with lead paint using an abrasive blasting nozzle with no "dead-man" control, he communicated through another employee in the containment to the pot tender on top of the bridge when he wanted to start and stop blasting.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees are provided with abrasive blasting nozzles with operating "dead-man" switches.    (c) George Wade Bridge, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that abrasive blasting nozzles are equipped with an operating "dead-man" valve which must be held open manually.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where a foreman tended the pot while an employee blasted surfaces covered with lead paint using the 8 bag pot on the stake truck.  The vacuum switch for the abrasive blasting nozzle was pinched off so there was no "dead man" control.  The blaster communicated with the foreman/pot tender from below the bridge in containment by hitting the steel structure of the bridge with a hammer when he wanted start or stop blasting .  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees are provided with abrasive blasting nozzles with operating "dead-man" switches.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Where only high-temperature alarms are used, the air supply is not monitored at intervals sufficient to prevent carbon monoxide in the breathing air from exceeding 10 ppm.    (a) George Wade Bridge (I-81) Section 12 Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that breathing air supplied to abrasive-blasting respirators meets the requirements for grade D breathing air in accordance with ANSI/Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G-7.1-1989.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 at a job site on Interstate Route 81 section 12 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where employees used air for abrasive-blasting respirators that was not monitored to ensure it was free of harmful quantities of dusts, mists, or noxious gases.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employee breathing air is continuously monitored for Carbon Monoxide.      (b) George Wade Bridge (I-81) Section 12 Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that breathing air supplied to abrasive-blasting respirators meets the requirements for grade D breathing air in accordance with ANSI/Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G-7.1-1989.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 at a job site on Interstate Route 81 section 12 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where employees used air for abrasive-blasting respirators that was being monitored using an INVERTECH CAN 900 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector.  During the inspection the device was in the alarm condition, the red alarm lamp was illuminated and an audio alarm was sounding.  The employee assigned to monitor the equipment did not take action to investigate the condition of the CO monitor nor alert employees using the air of the alarm condition.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees monitoring the employee breathing air are trained in the operation of the CAM 900 CO monitor.      (c)  George Wade Bridge (I 81) Section 38 Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that breathing air supplied to abrasive-blasting respirators meets the requirements for grade D breathing air in accordance with ANSI/Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G-7.1-1989.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 at a job site on Interstate Route 81 section 38 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where employees used air for abrasive-blasting respirators that was not monitored to ensure it was free of harmful quantities of dusts, mists, or noxious gases.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employee breathing air is continuously monitored for Carbon Monoxide.      Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,695 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1): Portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface and the ladder side rails do not extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access:    (a) George Wade Bridge (I-81) Span 12, Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that portable ladders used for access to upper landing surfaces are positioned so that their side rails extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012  on the George Wade Bridge Project in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where employees used a portable ladder that did not extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface to access working areas below the bridge at or near span 12.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that all portable ladders are positioned with the side rails extended at least three feet above the upper landing surface.     Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $53,900 · Current $28,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1): Each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level is not protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.    (a) Panthera Painting Incorporated - The employer does not ensure that employees on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8m) or more above a lower level are protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.  This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where the employer did not ensure that an employee working on top of the grit hopper of the ARS Aries Vac  B2 serial number 182268T3815L26B48315, Was protected from falling on one side approximately 85 feet to the river below the bridge and on the other three sides from falling approximately 10 feet to the ground. To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that employees on walking/working surfaces with unprotected sides or edges which are 6 feet or more above a lower level are protected from falling by the use of guardrails systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems.    PANTHERA PAINTING INC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD, 1926.501(b)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 314241662, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 4, AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON DECEMBER 10, 2011, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT INTERSTATE 81, GEORGE WADE BRIDGE, HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.       Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 25, 2013

Abate by

Feb 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv): The employer does not ensure that the person authorized to perform the necessary sorbent bed and filter changes fill out a tag indicating by the signature and date that maintenance changes are performed:    (a) George Wade Bridge (I-81) Section 12 Harrisburg Pennsylvania - The employer does not ensure that the person authorized to change filters in breathing air systems fills out a tag with his or her signature and date to indicate that the filter change has occurred. This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where no tags were posted on the Doosan HP915 air compressor serial number 4FVCCBGB8CU441558 that was being used to provide breathing air to employees performing abrasive blasting activities below the bridge inside the lead containment.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that the authorized person signs and dates a tag indicated the date of filter changes for each breathing air system.     (b) George Wade Bridge (I-81) Section 38 Harrisburg Pennsylvania -  The employer does not ensure that the person authorized to change filters in breathing air systems fills out a tag with his or her signature and date to indicate that the filter change has occurred. This violation was most recently noted during the period of July 25, 2012 to December 17, 2012 on the George Wade Bridge site in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where no tags were posted on the Ingersol Rand HP 1600 trailer mounted compressor that was being used to provide breathing air to employees performing abrasive blasting activities below the bridge inside the lead containment.  To abate this violation, and at all future worksites, the employer must ensure that the authorized person signs and dates a tag indicated the date of filter changes for each breathing air system.     Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit 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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.