OSHA Inspection: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $6,600 · Current $4,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1):     All places of employment, passageways, storerooms or service rooms were not kept clean and orderly or in a sanitary condition.    Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - In the part wash area, pallets and other material were placed in the area creating tripping hazards due to the poor housekeeping, on or about 11/9/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

Sep 20, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2):     Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition:    a) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - Employees in the Tubing Forming Department were exposed to slippery floors from hydraulic oil leaking from equipment such as, but not limited to, the Walker draw down, 360 Cell tube forming EBM #1 tube forming and end finishing machine, and the LH Haven single end machine. In addition, slippery conditions increased by the oil used on the product, on or about 11/9/12.    b) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - Employees in the Rod Department were exposed to slippery floors from hydraulic oil leaking from equipment such as, but not limited to the screws machines. In addition, slippery conditions increased by the oil used on the product, on or about 11/9/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $5,500

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(3)(i):     The employer did not ensure that each employee was informed of the effects of noise on hearing:    a) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating grinder #3 was exposed to noise at a TWA of 90.2 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 420 minutes. Some of the employees operating grinder #3 were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.    b) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating screw machine 3369 was exposed to noise at a TWA of 90.8 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 443 minutes. Some of the employees operating screw machine 3369 were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.    c) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating screw machine #1 was exposed to noise at a TWA of 88.2 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 440 minutes. Some of the employees operating screw machine #1 were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.    d) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating the crane was exposed to noise at a TWA of 93.2 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 426 minutes. Some of the employees operating the crane were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.    e) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating grinder #2 was exposed to noise at a TWA of 88 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 424 minutes. Some of the employees operating grinder #2 were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.    f) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee operating the CNC machines was exposed to noise at a TWA of 88.9 dBA, which exceeds the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 429 minutes. Some of the employees operating CNC machines were not informed of the effects of noise on hearing on or about 11/8/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $4,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):     Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - In the part wash area, an employee manually poured Liquid Ferro Terj, which contained sodium and potassium hydroxide, which was classified as corrosive. An emergency eye wash was not provided in the immediate area, on or about 11/9/12.    b) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - A maintenance employee was required to manually poured Liquid Ferro, which was classified as corrosive, into the tanks of the two alpha lines. An emergency eye wash station was not provided in the immediate area, on or about 11/9/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

Jun 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1):     Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:    a) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - In the part wash area, an employee manually poured Liquid Ferro Terj, which contained sodium and potassium hydroxide, which was classified as corrosive. Chemical splash goggles and face shield were not required, on or about 11/9/12.    b) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - A maintenance employee was required to manually poured Liquid Ferro, which was classified as corrosive, into the tanks of the two alpha lines. Chemical splash goggles and face shield were not required, on or about 11/9/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $1,100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.7(b)(4):     The employer did not correctly classify the following work-related injuries or illnesses on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.     a) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee experienced a recordable hand contusion on January 18, 2013 that required restricted activities where the employee could not performed his/her full duties. The number of restricted days was not entered in column (L) of the OSHA 300 log for 2013. Column (I) was not checked, on or about 2/28/13.    b) Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - An employee experienced a recordable finger laceration on January 30, 2013 that required restricted activities where the employee could not performed his/her full duties. Column (I) was not checked, on or about 2/28/13.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Abate by

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.10(a):     The employer did not record all cases on the OSHA 300 Log when an employee's hearing test (audiogram) revealed that the employee had experienced a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one or both ears, and the employee's total hearing level is 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS.    Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - The annual audiograms of some of the employees demonstrated recordable standard threshold shift (STS). The STS(s) were not recorded in the OSHA 300 log for 2012, on or about 11/8/12.

Issued

May 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(7)(ii):     Where the annual audiogram showed that an employee had suffered a standard threshold shift, the employer did not obtain a retest within 30 days.    Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc., Hartwell, GA - The annual audiograms of some of the employees demonstrated a standard threshold shift (STS) in June 2012. A re-test audiogram was not obtained within 30 days of the employer being notified, on or about 11/8/12.