OSHA Inspection: MIDWEST PRECISION CASTINGS CO.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jul 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6)  At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  1)  Where employee exposure to noise exceeded 90 dBA for an 8 hour time-weighted average hearing tests had not been conducted since 2009.  In the big sandblasting room and knockout area, for the employee monitored on 3/13/2013, exposed to continuous noise at 100.5 dBA for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) (430.8% of dose) who was sampled for 442 minutes with a zero exposure given for the 38 minutes not sampled.  2)  Where employee exposure to noise exceeded 90 dBA for an 8 hour time-weighted average hearing tests had not been conducted since 2009.  In the air arc air gouging area and cut-off area, for the employee monitored on 3/13/2013, exposed to continuous noise at 94.6 dBA for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) (190.0% of dose) who was sampled for 473 minutes with a zero exposure given for the 7 minutes not sampled.  3) Where employee exposure to noise exceeded 85 dBA for an 8 hour time-weighted average hearing tests had not been conducted since 2009.  In the finishing department (grinding) and sandblasting cabinets room, for the employee monitored on 3/13/2013, exposed to continuous noise at 91.4 dBA for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) (122.3% of dose) who was sampled for 451 minutes with a zero exposure given for the 29 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jul 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1)  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  For employees who were required to wear respirators including but not limited to the Sandblaster who wore a Bullard Supplied Air Respirator (TC-19C-293), the Dip Room operator(s), Grinder(s), Knockout machine operator, etc. who wore a Moldex N95 respirator, and the Melter who wore a 3M 6001 1/2 face negative pressure respirator with organic vapor cartridges, medical evaluations had not been performed.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jul 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2)  The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter. For employees who were required to wear respirators including but not limited to the Dip Room operator(s), Grinder(s), Knockout machine operator, etc. who wore a Moldex N95 respirator, and the Melter who wore a 3M 6001 1/2 face negative pressure respirator with organic vapor cartridges, fit-testing had not been conducted.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Apr 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,050 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1)  The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):  At the foundry, for employees who worked with stainless steel including, but not limited to, welding, arc air, grinding, and melting and pouring, initial monitoring for exposure to hexavalent chromium had not been performed.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jul 18, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(i)(A)  The employer did not provide appropriate information and training for all employees exposed to chromium (VI), in that employees could not demonstrate knowledge of the contents of the Chromium (VI) standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026:  At the foundry, for employees who worked with stainless steel including, but not limited to, welding, arc air, grinding, and melting and pouring, training on hexavalent chromium had not been conducted.

Issued

Apr 18, 2013

Abate by

Jun 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.10(a)  Basic requirement. 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 was 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS, the case was not recorded on the OSHA 300 Log:  For the three employees who experienced a Standard Threshold Shift in 2009 and were not recorded on the 2009 OSHA 300 Log.