OSHA Inspection: TEXAS CONCRETE PARTNERS, L.P.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(e):     The fixed stairs were not installed at angles to the horizontal between 30 and 50 degrees as outlined, but not limited to the combinations given in Table D-1:    Stairs to water chiller shed; center, west area of the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace actvities were exposed to fall hazards from contact with the next lower level while ascending/descending fixed stairs not installed at angles to the horizintal between 30 and 50 degrees. The tread rise was measured at 11 1/2 inches, the tread run measured at 10 inches, with the stair height at 136 inches to the next lower level.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h):     Standard railings were not provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms:    Stairs to water chiller shed; center, west area of the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace actvities were exposed to fall hazards from contact with the next lower level while ascending/descending exposed stairs missing standard railing on one side of the stairs. The fall distance from the top of the stairs to the next lower level was 136 inches.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    Throughout the workplace: On 10/17/2012, the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program for those employees engaged in workplace activities and exposed to excessive noise levels while performing the following tasks:    Batch plant vacuum unloader areas: Employees engaged in the vacuum transfer of cement powder/fly ash from tank trucks to batch plant storage tanks were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 147% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 147.4% exposure is approximately 93.43 dBA. This exposure is 1.47 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose.) The noise sampling was conducted on 10/17/2012, for 468 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 12 minutes.    North end of workplace: Employees engaged in fork lift operations and transferred wet cement from Batch Plant delivery chute to form line areas #1-10 were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 100.9% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 100.9% exposure is approximately 91.41 dBA. This exposure is 100.9 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose.) The noise sampling was conducted on 10/17/2012, for 399 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 81 minutes.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

Apr 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1):     The employer did not post of copy of 29 CFR 1910.95 in the workplace:    Throughout the workplace: On 10/17/2012, the employer did not post a copy of 29 CFR 1910.95 for those employees engaged in workplace activities and exposed to excessive noise levels while performing the following tasks:     Batch plant vacuum unloader areas: Employees engaged in the vacuum transfer of cement powder/fly ash from tank trucks to batch plant storage tanks were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 147% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 147.4% exposure is approximately 93.43 dBA. This exposure is 1.47 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 10/17/2012, for 468 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 12 minutes.    North end of workplace: Employees engaged in fork lift operations and transferred wet cement from Batch Plant delivery chute to form line areas #1-10 were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 100.9% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (90 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 100.9% exposure is approximately 91.41 dBA. This exposure is 100.9 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dBA (90 dBA for 8 hours is 100% of the allowable dose.) The noise sampling was conducted on 10/17/2012, for 399 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 81 minutes.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

Apr 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii):     Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):    Southwest area of Steel Shop-north end of steel yard, north end of worksite: On 10/18/2012, employees engaged in U-shaped rod bending activities while operating the rebar rod bending machine were exposed to crush hazards from contact with moving/stationary dies operating at 120 cycles per minute and not guarded. Employees were exposed to these hazards while loading straight rods into the stationary die fitting, located 36 inches above the floor; and simultaneously operating machine controls situated 12 inches from the stationary/movable die fittings.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

Apr 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(d)(8):     Welding cables with splices within 10 feet (3 m) of the holder were used:    Welding station, south end; west side of maintenance shop, south end of worksite: On 10/19/2012, employees engaged in arc welding activities were exposed to shock hazards from contact with energized conductors whose insulation was damaged. The conductor contained damaged outer insulation at points 1-1/2, 7, & 8 feet from the electrode holder, while resting upon the workplace floor, and operating at 50-90 volts AC/DC and 100-300 amperes.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2):     Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:    Throughout the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with energized, electrical disconnect equipment not used in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling. The employer had disabled the manufacturer's installed switch disconnect mechanism, and used the following devices as  electrical junction boxes:    a. East wall of the Old Pipe Plant, southeast area of the worksite: The disconnect's internal conductors operated at 120 volts AC; were exposed to insulation damage from repeated contact with the movable switch handle drive rod of the  enclosure that was mounted at 72 inches above the plant floor,    b. Admin building, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: The disconnects internal fuse block was removed, with 3 internal line conductors that operated at 240 volts AC attached to the functional switch device & drive rod; with three insulated splices stored at the bottom of the enclosure mounted at a height of 33 inches above the ground.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i):     Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:    Throughout the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with the internal, energized components of the following equipment whose unused enclosure openings were not effectively closed:    a. East wall of Old Pipe Plant, southeast area of the worksite: The disconnect contained an unused opening and operated at 240 Volts AC at a height of 46 inches above the plant floor,    b. Admin Building Exterior, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: The panelboard contained an unused opening and operated at 120/240 volts, at a height of 32 inches above the ground.                              (a) (LOCATION) (IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT) (STATE HAZARD(S) TO EMPLOYEE(S))

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(8)(i):     Electric equipment was not firmly secured to the surface on which it was mounted:     Admin building, east side/north end; north end of the worklplace: On 10/18/12, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to shock hazards from contact with electric meter base enclosure not firmly secured to the building wall surface. The electric meter base operated at 120/240 volts AC, at a height of 49 inches above the ground; and was suspended from the wall surface by a distance of 3/4 inches.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(c)(2)(ii):     Throughout the worksite: On 10/16/2012, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with the following energized equipment powered by ungrounded conductors joined together using a set-screw pressure connector not identified for use with more than one conductor:     a. East wall of the Old Pipe Plant, southeast area of the worksite: The electrical disconnect ungrounded conductors were mounted on the line side terminals of the enclosure fuse block that operated at 120 volts AC, and were housed within the enclosure mounted at a height of 72 inches above the plant floor,    b. Admin building exterior, east side/north end, north end of the workplace: The electrical disconnect ungrounded  conductors were mounted on the load side terminals of the enclosure fuse block that operated at 240 volts AC, and were housed within an enclosure mounted at a height of 33 inches above the ground.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(e)(2):     Durability. The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved:    Admin building exterior, east/north end, north end of the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with energized electrical disconnect equipment whose manufacturer's identification labeling was not of sufficient durability for the environment involved in that a portion of the label was not attached to the inside surface of the enclosure access door.  The disconnect operated at 240 volts AC, with the enclosure mounted at a height of 33 inches above the ground.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2):     Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:    Throughout the workplace: On 10-16-2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with equipment conductors/terminals energized from the following disconnects or overcurrent devices not labeled as to purpose:    a. East wall of the Old Pipe Plant; southeast area of the workplace: Disconnect for Circuit Breaker Panel & Elevator Motor Starter Device that operated at 240 volts AC at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,    b. East wall of the Old Pipe Plant; southeast area of the workplace: Circuit breaker panelboard contained eight-20 amp single pole circuit breakers that operated at 120 volts AC, at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,     c. East wall of the Old Pipe Plant; southeast area of the workplace: Circuit breaker panelboard contained two-20 ampere single pole circuit breakers that operated at 240 volts AC at a height of 36 inches above the plant floor,     d. North wall, West Mixer, 2nd floor; southeast area of the workpalce: Circuit breaker panelboard contained four-20 ampere single pole circuit breakers and one-30 ampere single pole circuit breakers that operated at 120 volts AC at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,      e. North wall, West Mixer, 2nd floor; southeast area of the workpalce: Circuit breaker panelboard contained nine-20 ampere single pole circuit breakers that operated at 120 volts AC at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,      f. North wall, West Mixer, 2nd floor; southeast area of the workpalce: 200 ampere disconnect that operated at 240 volts AC at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,    g. North wall, West Mixer, 2nd floor; southeast area of the workpalce: 400 ampere disconnect that operated at 240 volts AC at a height of 48 inches above the plant floor,    h. Admin building exterior, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: Four electrical disconnects operated at 240 volts AC. and were mounted at heights of 26-33 inches above the ground,    i. Admin building exterior, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: Unlabeled circuit breakers installed within two panelboards, operated at 120/240 volts AC, and mounted at heights of 1 1/2--32 inches above the ground,     j. Foreman's breakroom, south wall/west end of the Shop Building, north end of the worksite: 100 ampere (sky blue color) disconnect operated at 240 Volts AC and mounted at a height of 42 inches above the floor,     k. Machine shop, north wall-adjacent to restroom, south end of worksite: ITE brand Clampmatic Fusecenter contained disconnects #5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, & 16 that operated at 240 Volts AC at a height of 36 inches above the floor,    l. Upper panelboard-east side of ITE Clampmatic Fusecenter, North wall of Machine Shop, south end of worksite: Panelboard contained one single pole circuit breaker--#25 that operated at 120 Volts AC and mounted at a height of 55 inches above the floor,     m. Old Paint Shop Panelboard-west side of ITE Clampmatic Fusecenter, North wall of Machine Shop, south end of worksite: 4 single pole panelboard circuit breakers that operate at 120 Volts AC at a height of 55 inches above the floor .

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(3):     The markings required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of 29 CFR 1910.303 were not sufficiently durable to withstand the environment involved:    Throughout the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with the following energized equipment whose identification labels were not sufficiently durable to withstand the environment involved:    a. North wall, west mixer, 2nd floor, southeast area of the workplace: The identification label for the 200 amp water chiller unit electrical disconnect was partially covered by ambient dust; with the remaining label portion pulled loose from the surface of the enclosure. The disconnect operated at 240 Volts AC at a height of 46 inches above the plant floor,    b. North wall, west mixer, 2nd floor, southeast area of the workplace: The identification label for the 200 amp workplace panelboard was partially covered by ambient dust; with the remaining label portion pulled loose from the surface of the enclosure. The panelboard operated at 120/240 Volts AC at a height of 76 inches above the plant floor,    c. North wall, west mixer, 2nd floor, southeast area of the workplace: The identification label for the 400 amp electrical disconnect was partially covered by ambient dust; with the remaining label portion pulled loose from the surface of the enclosure. The disconnect operated at 240 Volts AC at a height of 32 inches above the plant floor.                        (a) (LOCATION) (IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT) (STATE HAZARD(S) TO EMPLOYEE(S))

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):     Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):    Admin Building Exterior, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: On 10-18-2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with live parts such as but not limited to exposed, energized splices which protruded a distance of at least one inch through unused circuit breaker panelboard  openings. The exposed, energized wiring operated at 120 volts AC at a height of 33 inches above the ground.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i)(B):     Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electrical equipment operating at 50 volts or more were not guarded by suitable permanent, substantial partitions or screens so arranged so that only qualified persons would have access to the space within reach of the live parts. Any openings in such partitions or screens were not so sized and located that persons were not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them:    Admin Building Exterior, east side/north end; north end of the workplace: On 10-18-2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with live parts such as but not limited to  energized internal panelboard components through an unused partition opening in the panelboard dead front. The exposed, internal panelboard components operated at 120/240 volts AC, was mounted at a height of 32 inches above the ground; with the dead front partition accessible to all employees since the panelboard cover was not secured with a lock or alternate means.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

May 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):     Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:    Water chiller shed; center, west end of the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with energized wiring located in the water chiller junction box missing a cover. The exposed, energized wiring was operating at 120 volts AC, at a height of 14 1/2 inches above the shed floor.

Issued

Mar 29, 2013

Abate by

Apr 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):     Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:    East wall of the Old Pipe Plant; southeast area of the workplace: On 10/16/2012, employees engaged in workplace activities were exposed to electrical shock hazards from contact with the energized ice machine powered by an extension cord used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of the structure. The 4 foot long cord and plug assembly for the ice machine was connected to a 10 foot long extension cord, which operated at 120 volts, at a height of 24 inches above the floor; and was plugged into the building wall receptacle.