OSHA Inspection: ORMET PRIMARY ALLUMINUM CORPORATION

Issued

2013-02-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-03-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i):     The employer shall select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.    a. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the crane operator position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 140 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 46.4 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. The employer did not provide an appropriate respirator for employees.     b. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the potman position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 100 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 375 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 33.5 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride.  The employer did not provide an appropriate respirator for employees.     c. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the tapper position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 53 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 380 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 17.8 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride.  The employer did not provide an appropriate respirator for employees.     d. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the carbon setter position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 370 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 122.7 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride.  The employer did not provide an appropriate respirator for employees.

Issued

2013-02-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(b)(1):     8-hour time weighted averages. An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Table Z-2, 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 Table Z-2.    a. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the crane operator position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 140 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 46.4 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Zero exposure was assumed for the 132 minutes not sampled.       b. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the potman position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 100 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 375 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 33.5 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Zero exposure was assumed for the 105 minutes not sampled.      c. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the tapper position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 53 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 380 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 17.8 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Zero exposure was assumed for the 100 minutes not sampled.       d. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the carbon setter position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 370 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 122.7 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Zero exposure was assumed for the 132 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2013-02-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1460

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e):     To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and/or technical measures used for this purpose must be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1910.134.      a. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the crane operator position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 140 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 46.4 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Engineering controls were not implemented in the workplace.     b. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the potman position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 100 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 375 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 33.5 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Engineering controls were not implemented in the workplace    c. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the tapper position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 53 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 380 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 17.8 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Engineering controls were not implemented in the workplace.     d. On November 1, 2012, an employee working in the potroom at the carbon setter position was exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 370 ppm for hydrogen fluoride during a 348 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 122.7 times the exposure limit of 3 ppm for hydrogen fluoride. Engineering controls were not implemented in the workplace.     ABATEMENT:    Step 1: Effective Respiratory Proteection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.     Step 2: Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative controls to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at the minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation.     1. Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;    2. Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;    3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures;    4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.     All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Sixty (60) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.     Step 3: Abatement shal have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their efectiveness in achieving compliance.     Fesible engineering and/or administrative control could include, but the empl0oyer is not bound by or limited to the following:    1. Equip pots with local exhaust ventilation.     2. Enclose process and machiniery to isolate them from the employees.     3. Rotate the employees in and out of the hazardous job duties to limit their exposures below the PEL for an 8-hour TWA.     4. Any combination of the above.