OSHA Inspection: LYNCH CHICAGO, INC.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

May 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1):  The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, in the facility, employees were required to perform welding, torching and grinding operations and were exposed to chemical hazards including, but not limited to hydrofluoric acid.  The employer failed to perform a hazard assessment to determine which hazards were present which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Mar 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i):  Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, in the facility, employees were exposed to eye hazards when performing welding, torching and grinding operations.  The employer failed to require the use of appropriate eye protection such as but not limited to, face shields and proper shading when performing these tasks.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

May 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1):  The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE.  Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, employees were not trained on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when provided.  The training shall include the following:    1.  When PPE is necessary.  2.  What PPE is necessary.  3.  How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear PPE.  4.  The limitations of PPE.  5.  The proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE.    Employee exposure included, but was not limited to, hydrofluoric acid, welding, torching and grinding hazards.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Mar 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(a)(3):  Apparatus. Only approved apparatus such as torches, regulators or pressure-reducing valves, acetylene generators, and manifolds shall be used.    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, employees were exposed to struck by and fire hazards from the use of broken regulators on oxygen and acetylene compressed gas cylinders.  The compressed gas cylinders used in the facility did not have the glass covering the pressure display and was not approved by the manufacture.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Mar 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(d)(9)(iii):  Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors shall be replaced. Joining lengths of work and electrode cables shall be done by the use of connecting means specifically intended for the purpose. The connecting means shall have insulation adequate for the service conditions.     a.  On or about January 31, 2013, in the facility, employees were exposed to electrical hazards from damaged insulation on cables and conductors.  Employees were required to work with equipment, such as but not limited to, Lincoln Arc Welder DC-250, serial #626398, Miller Arc Welder CP302, serial number KJ262827 and Miller CP300 Arc Welder, Serial #KF92549, which all had damaged ground cables and/or electrodes.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

Mar 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):  Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidentalcontact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the following means:    a.  Production area - On or about January 31, 2013, an extension cord used to power hand held tools had rips in the protective coating and a damaged plug leaving exposed wires unguarded, thereby exposing employees to live electrical parts.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Abate by

May 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, in the facility, employees were required to work with hazardous chemicals including but not limited to hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid and welding fumes were not provided with training on the hazards associated with the chemicals.

Issued

Mar 19, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(ii): Fire extinguishers. Suitable fire extinguishing equipment shall be maintained in a state of readiness for instant use. Such equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets of sand, hose or portable extinguishers depending upon the nature and quantity of the combustible material exposed.    a.  On or about January 31, 2013, in the facility, employees were required to perform welding, torching and grinding operations.  Employees were exposed to potential fire hazards when an available fire extinguisher was inaccessible due to a tool box stored in front of it.