OSHA Inspection: GOLDEN ALUMINUM, INC.

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,066 · Current $1,240 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:       (a)        Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not ensure that the railing on the platform for the shredder pit was equipped with a standard railing to guard against falling in that there was no guardrail. This condition exposed employees to a fall hazard in excess of 5 feet.           Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,670 · Current $3,402 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29    CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(c):Class I liquids may be used only where there are no open flames or other sources of ignition within the possible path of vapor travel:       a)     Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not ensure that Methyl ethyl ketone, a Class 1B flammable liquid, was used only where there are no open flames or other sources of ignition. The paint mixing area was located next to the tank blowers. An employee was burned caused by a fire ignited by the vapors entering into the air intake blower. This condition exposed employees to fire and burn hazards.        Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29    CFR 1910.106(e)(7)(i)(b): Locations where flammable vapor-air mixtures may exist under normal operations shall be classified Class I, Division 1 according to the requirements of Subpart S of this part. For those pieces of equipment installed in accordance with subparagraph (3)(v)(b) of this paragraph, the Division 1 area did not extend 5 feet in all directions from all points of vapor liberation:     a)   Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not ensure location where flammable vapor-air mixtures may exist under normal operations were classified as Class I Division I. Even had the location been properly designated the natural gas blowers were still within 5 feet of the point of vapor liberation. This condition exposed employees to a fire and burn hazards.        Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29    CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iii): Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area were not kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily:       a)     Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not ensure that combustible waste material in an operating area was stored in a closed metal receptacle and disposed of daily. One employee removed a filter soaked in methyl ethyl ketone, a Class 1B flammable liquid, from a paint canister. The filter with MEK was placed on the step stool located next to the air intake blower and not properly disposed of. The employer did not ensure that the combustible waste materials were disposed of in a closed metal waste can. This condition exposed employees to a fire hazard.        Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,443 · Current $2,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR1910.119(c)(1): The employer did not develop a written plan of action regarding implementation of the employee participation required by 29 CFR 1910.119:       a)     Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not develop a written plan of action regarding implementation of the employee participation in the development of a process safety management plan or process hazard analysis. The employer maintained 2000 lbs. of chlorine in the system. This condition exposed employees to a chlorine hazard.         Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(c)(2):    The employer did not consult with employees and their representative on the conduct and development of process hazard analyses:       Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not include employee involvement by non lead employees in the development of the process hazard analysis (PHA), standard operating procedures, mechanical integrity and incident investigations.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,443 · Current $2,066 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(1): The employer shall perform an initial process hazard analysis (hazard evaluation) on processes covered by this standard. The process hazard analysis shall be appropriate to the complexity of the process and shall identify, evaluate, and control the hazards involved in the process. Employers shall determine and document the priority order for conducting process hazard analyses based on a rationale which includes such considerations as extent of the process hazards, number of potentially affected employees, age of the process, and operating history of the process. The process hazard analysis shall be conducted as soon as possible, but not later than the following schedule:      a)       Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not perform an initial process hazard analysis (hazard evaluation) to identify, evaluate, and control the hazards involved in the process. Employers did not determine and document the priority order for conducting process hazard analyses that can potentially affected employees, age of the process, and operating history of the chlorine process.         Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,754 · Current $1,653 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3): Operating procedures were not reviewed as often as necessary to assure that they reflected current operating practice:           a)       Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not ensure that operating procedures were reviewed as often as necessary to assure that they reflected current operating practice. The employer did not have operating procedures for PSM covered processes for the chlorine system. This condition exposed employees to chemical and fire hazards.         Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,754 · Current $1,653 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(g)(3): Training documentation. The employer shall ascertain that each employee involved in operating a process has received and understood the training required by this paragraph. The employer shall prepare a record which contains the identity of the employee, the date of training, and the means used to verify that the employee understood the training.        a)       Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not prepare a record which contains the identity of the employee, the date of training, and the means used to verify that the employee understood the training for PSM covered processes for the chlorine system.         Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,066 · Current $1,240 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): Employers did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; sever cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:       a)     Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not select and require appropriate hand protection whenever employees were exposed to chemical hazards through skin absorption. Employees conducted hazardous operations while cleaning the floors and equipment of the paint line using Methyl ethyl ketone without gloves. Employees were exposed to toxic chemicals with known skin absorption hazards.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Apr 11, 2013

Abate by

May 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,066 · Current $1,212 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4): Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves:      (a) Golden Aluminum, Inc. at 1405 E. 14th Street, Fort Lupton, CO 80621: On and before 10/11/12, the employer did not protect employees from hazards created by projecting shaft ends. The rotating shafts projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft. This condition exposed employees to caught in hazards.      1) Rotating shafts at the delaquering baghouse area  2) Baghouse screw   3) Delaquering incline screw  4) Line recirculating pump  5) Melt baghouse auger  6) Shafts on chrome/wash tank  7) Prebreaker shaft  8) Incinerator shaft  9) Block caster    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").