OSHA Inspection: AMSTED RAIL INC. - GROVEPORT FACILITY

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $2,805 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1):  "Protection of open-sided floors, platforms, and runways."  Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder:    IN THE ALTERNATIVE:    29 CFR 1910.132(a): Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact:    a. For both the "Hot" and "Cold" cranes, safe access is not provided for the east platform. There is a lack of standard railing for the approximate distance of 36 inches between the entrance to the crane platform and the entrance from the platform associated with the access stairway for the crane. Additionally the fall protection system utilized to cross over from the west crane platform to the east crane platform is not adequate. To connect the lanyard-body harness protective equipment to the static line, the employee must reach out of the west crane platform entrance and across an approximate 34 inch opening. Due to these conditions, maintenance employees are exposed to a 35 to 45 feet fall hazard when performing required duties such as light replacement and routine "PMs" related to the articulated electrical supply line for the bridge crane trolley.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Mar 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,740 · Current $2,244 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle:    a. The point of operation for the two McClain compactors was not properly guarded. The machine guarding for the north trash compactor was inadequate; in that, the "gate style" barrier guard was inside the stop plate for the gate and did not prevent employee access to the danger zone of the compactor. Additionally the electronic device intended for use as an interlock was broken for both the north and south compactors. Employees loading material into the compactor for disposal, such as scrap cardboard packaging, have routine exposure during each use.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Aug 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $2,805 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):     An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Tables Z-1, Z-2, or Z-3 of this section shall be limited in accordance with the requirements of the following paragraphs of this section. An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Table Z-3, 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 the table.    On January 15, 2013, employees working in the Refractory area were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit provided in Table Z-3:    (a) A Refractory employee performing Refractory Lead duties during ladle repair "tear out" activities was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline quartz silica of 6.21 millgrams per cubic meter air during a 394 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 4.0 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 1.54 milligrams per cubic meter air. Zero exposure was assumed for 66 minutes that were not sampled. The employee did utilize respriatory protection during these activities. Respirable crystalline quartz silica poses an inhalation hazard that includes increased risk for cancer.    (b) A Refractory employee performing Refractory Technician duties during ladle repair "tear out" activities was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline quartz silica of 4.74 millgrams per cubic meter air during a 397 minute sampling period. This exposure level is 1.9 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 2.44 milligrams per cubic meter air. Zero exposure was assumed for 63 minutes that were not sampled. The employee did utilize respriatory protection during these activities. Respirable crystalline quartz silica poses an inhalation hazard that includes increased risk for cancer.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Abate by

Aug 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e):  An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Tables Z-1, Z-2, or Z-3 of this section shall be limited in accordance with the requirements of the following paragraphs of this section. To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible.     On January 15, 2013, for employees working in the Refractory area, the employer failed to install engineering controls and implement work practice controls to maintain employee exposure levels to respirable crystalline quartz silica below the permissible exposure level for the following employee exposures;     a.) A Refractory employee performing Refractory Lead duties during ladle repair "tear out" activities was exposed to respirable crystalline quartz silica 4.0 times the calculated permissible exposure limit (see citation 1 item 3a instance a.),    b.) A Refractory employee performing Refractory Lead duties during ladle repair "tear out" activities was exposed to respirable crystalline quartz silica 1.9 times the calculated permissible exposure limit  (see citation 1 item 3a instance b.).    Abatement Note:    Step 1 - Abatement due     Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures 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, certified industrial ventilation specialist experienced in complex processes or other technically qualified person.    Step 2: Abatement due    Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness (by performance of air monitoring) in achieving compliance.

Issued

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): "Railings and handrails." Standard railings shall be provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending. Stair railings and handrails shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of 1910.23.    a. For the stairway used to access the manufacturing plant production area from the plant offices, the midrail was missing from the open side (left side descending) of the stairway.