OSHA Inspection: BLAST OFF, INC.

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $600.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 DBA:    a) Facility - On or about, 03/15/2013, a sprayer was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 245% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.5 dBA during the 90 minute sampling period on March 15, 2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 390 minutes not sampled.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.         A hearing conservation program should include descriptions of how the criteria for:         1.   Monitoring;       2.   Employee notification;       3.   Observation of monitoring;       4.   Audiometric testing program;       5.   Audiometric test requirements;       6.   Hearing protectors;       7.   Hearing protector attenuation;       8.   Training program;       9.   Access to information and training materials;       10.  Recordkeeping; AND       11.  Appendices of the standard.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):   Where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures:     a) Facility - On or about 02/15/13, the employer required employees to wear Nova 2000 supplied air respirators while performing sand blasting.  The employer did not have a written respiratory protection program.     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable dust listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 5mg/m3:    1) Facility - On or about 02/15/13, a Sprayer was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 8.0 mg/M3, approximately 1.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 203 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 277 minutes not sampled.    2) Facility - On or about 03/15/13, a Sprayer was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 11.0 mg/M3, approximately 2.2 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 90 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 390 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    1) Facility - On or about 02/15/13, a Sprayer was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 8.0 mg/M3, approximately 1.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 203 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 277 minutes not sampled.    2) Facility - On or about 03/15/13, a Sprayer was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 11.0 mg/M3, approximately 2.2 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 90 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 390 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a)  Facility - On or about 1/28/13, the employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program.  Employees in the facility use chemicals such as but not limited to Starblast which contains Staurolite Minerals, Titanium Minerals, and Quarts; and Armex Blast Media which contain Sodium Bicarbonate, a written program should include descriptions of how the criteria for:     1.   Labeling and other forms of warning;   2.   Material Safety Data Sheets such as but not limited to; AND   3.   Employee information and training will be met.      Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazard must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

2013-05-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:     a)  Facility - On or about 01/18/13, employees working with materials such as, but not limited to Starblast which contains Staurolite Minerals, Titanium Minerals and Quartz; and Armex blast media which contains Sodium Bicarbonate were not provided with information and training on the hazardous materials that they work with.          1.   The requirements of this section:        2.   Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present; AND        3.   The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and               Material Safety Data Sheets.          Employee training shall include at least:          1.   Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area.        2.   The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area.        3.   The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures, appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used.        4.   The details of the employers Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of labeling systems, Material Safety Data Sheets and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED