OSHA Inspection: EVERETT SMITH GROUP LTD

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i):     The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    Southeast area of the worksite: On 12/19/2012, the employer had not established baseline audiograms of employees exposed to noise at or above the action level within 6 months of first exposure. Employees were exposed to injury from noise levels above the action level while engaged in metal processing activities during operation of the following machines:      a. Employees engaged in the operation of the Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 53.7% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 53.7% exposure is approximately 85.51 dBA. This exposure is 1.074 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 311 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 169 minutes.    b. Employees engaged in the operation of the Vibratory Debur Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 52.8% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 52.8% exposure is approximately 85.39 dBA. This exposure is 1.056 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 412 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 68 minutes.    c. Employees engaged in the operation of the Continental Line Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 51.3% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 51.3% exposure is approximately 85.18 dBA. This exposure is 1.026 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 405 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 75 minutes.    d. Employees engaged in the operation of the Vibratory Debur Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 70.1% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 70.1% exposure is approximately 87.43 dBA. This exposure is 1.402 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 258 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 222 minutes.    e. Employees engaged in the operation of the Continental Line Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 57.9% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 57.9% exposure is approximately 86.00 dBA. This exposure is 1.158 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 270 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 210 minutes.     An effective hearing conservation program includes baseline and annual audiograms to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hearing Conservation Program; and any hearing protectors used, employeee training on the proper fit, use, and maintenance of hearing protectors and the effects of noise on hearing.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,350 Reduced

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 worksite: On 12/18/2012, the employer had not posted a copy of the Occupational Noise Exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95) in the workplace. Affected employees were exposed to injury from contact with noise levels above the action level while engaged in metal processing activities during operation of the following machines:      a. Employees engaged in the operation of the Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 53.7% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 53.7% exposure is approximately 85.51 dBA. This exposure is 1.074 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 311 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 169 minutes.    b. Employees engaged in the operation of the Vibratory Debur Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 52.8% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 52.8% exposure is approximately 85.39 dBA. This exposure is 1.056 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 412 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 68 minutes.    c. Employees engaged in the operation of the Continental Line Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 51.3% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 51.3% exposure is approximately 85.18 dBA. This exposure is 1.026 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 405 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 75 minutes.    d. Employees engaged in the operation of the Vibratory Debur Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 70.1% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 70.1% exposure is approximately 87.43 dBA. This exposure is 1.402 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 258 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 222 minutes.    e. Employees engaged in the operation of the Continental Line Machine were exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 57.9% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 57.9% exposure is approximately 86.00 dBA. This exposure is 1.158 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on 12/19/2012, for 270 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 210 minutes.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.136(a):     The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used protective footwear when working in areas where there was a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet were exposed to electrical hazards:    Throughout the workplace: Employees who wore canvas shoes with rubber soles were exposed to struck-by hazards from contact with 30 gallon fiber drums whose weight was in excess of 50 pounds and contained processed/unprocessed metal parts. Fiber drums in the following areas, were rolled 5 feet across the workplace floor from the part delivery areas to a shipping pallet; where the rolled drum was subsequently lifted by the employee from the floor to the surface of the wooden pallet 4 inches above the floor:    a. Continental Line machine,     b. Vibratory Debur machine,    c. Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):     Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:    Throughout the workplace, Employees were exposed to chemical injuries from contact with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to EC382R-Alkaline Cleaner, Titrating Solution 11 (Sodium Hydroxide), Reagent Solution 44 (Sulfuric Acid), and Titrating Solution 60 (Hydrochloric Acid) were not provided with hazardous chemical information and training. Employees handle these chemicals in support of workplace production plating activities in the following locations:    a.  Continental Line Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    b.  Vibratory Debur Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    c.  Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine, Southeast area of the workplace.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(10):     The employer did not ensure that workplace labels or other forms of warnings were legible, in English and prominently displaced on the container or readily available in the work area throughout each work shift:    Throughout the workplace:  Employees were exposed to chemical injuries from contact with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to Fenol Taleina whose hazard identity/hazard warning information was not provided in English. Employees handle this chemicals in support of workplace production plating activities in the following locations:    a.  Continental Line Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    b.  Vibratory Debur Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    c.  Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine, Southeast area of the workplace.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Mar 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):     Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    Throughout the workplace:  Employees exposed to chemical injuries from contact with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to EC382R-Alkaline Cleaner, Titrating Solution 11 (Sodium Hydroxide), Reagent Solution 44 (Sulfuric Acid), and Titrating Solution 60 (Hydrochloric Acid) were not provided with hazardous chemical information and training. Employees handle these chemicals in support of workplace plating activities in the following locations:    a. Continental Line Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    b. Vibratory Debur Machine, Southeast area of the workplace,    c. Zinc Phosphate Degreaser Machine, Southeast area of the workplace.