OSHA Inspection: TUBULAR STRUCTURES INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

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;    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 106% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (85 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 106% is approximately 90.4 dBA. The sampling was performed for 458 minutes during one shift on April 11, 2013. .

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to protect employees whose  exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels;    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program for employees exposed to daily noise levels above an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): Within 6 months of an employees first exposure at or above the action level, the employer did not establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared;    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area,  the employer did not make baseline audiometric testing available to each employee whose noise exposure equaled or exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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;    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not make audiometric testing available to employees whose noise exposure equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not institute a training program for all employees who are exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, and did not ensure employee participation in such program:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not provide training to employees whose noise exposure equaled or exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1): The employer did not make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of this standard and did not also post a copy in the workplace:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not post a copy of the standard for employees exposed to daily noise levels above an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(3): The employer did not designate a program administrator who was qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and to conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:     This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the safety manager was not qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not provide medical evaluation to employees before the employee was required to use the respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirators 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:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, employees required to use respirators were not fit tested prior to respirator use and annually.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i): Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were not cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the 3M facepiece and MSA respirators being used by employees were not maintained in a sanitary condition.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators:    This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not provide training to employees before the employees were required to use the respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 8, 2013

Abate by

Aug 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910. 1200(e)(1): Employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each work place, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning:       This violation occurred on April 11, 2013, and at times prior thereto, in the fabrication department, abrasive blasting booth and spray booth area, the employer did not ensure that a written hazard communication program was available at the workplace.