OSHA Inspection: K&H FABRICATORS, INC.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,428 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:     a)  Building #3:  A Welder was exposed to continuous noise at 95.10% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 475 minute sampling period on July 12, 2013.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 89.6 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 5 minutes not sampled.    b)  Building #3:  A Fitter was exposed to continuous noise at 88.82% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 474 minute sampling period on July 12, 2013.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 88.9 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 6 minutes not sampled.    c)  Building #3:  A Grinder was exposed to continuous noise at 88.74% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour Time Weight Average sound level of 85 dBA) during the 423 minute sampling period on July 12, 2013.  For a full eight hour work shift this exposure would be equivalent to an average sound level of 89.6 dBA.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 57 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:   On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide a baseline audiogram to employees' first exposure at or above the action level of 85 decibels for an 8-hour time weighted average.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:  On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide employees with a selection of hearing protectors to use and only offered Comfort Plus formable ear plugs.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Dec 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,428 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(c): Personal protective equipment was not of safe design and construction for the work to be performed:    On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the personal fall arrest system was improperly designed in that the anchorage point was located below the D ring of the employee's harness.     Abatement Note:  The attachment point of the harness shall be located in the center of the wearer's back near shoulder level, or above the wearer's head.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,428 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not implement its written permit space entry program for employees who were required to weld inside pressure vessels and flare stacks, exposing employees to the hazards of oxygen deficient atmospheres and/or welding fume.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(10): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement a system for the preparation, issuance, use, and cancellation of entry permits as required by 29 CFR 1910.146(e)(6):   On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that entry permits were prepared and maintained for each pressure vessel and smoke stack entry that required employees to perform welding operations, expsoing employees to the hazards of oxygen deficient atmospheres and/or welding fume.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:   On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that suitable entry conditions had been verified and documented prior to employees entering steel pressure vessels and smoke stacks that were identified as permit-required confined spaces.  Employees were required to enter and perform welding operations, exposing them to potential oxygen deficient atmospheres/or welding fume.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(4)(iv): Where the welder must enter a confined space through a manhole or other small opening, means was not provided for quickly removing the welder in case of emergency:     On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer performed confined space entry into pressure vessels and smoke stacks to do welding operations.  The employer did not provide a non-entry retrieval system exposing employees to the hazards of oxygen deficient atmospheres.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,071 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    a) Building #3:  On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, a Big Joe Milling Machine was not equipped with a chip guard to protect the employee from the hazards of flying projectiles.    b) Building #3:  On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, a Rigid 15" Drill Press was not equipped with a chip guard to protet the employee from the hazards of flying projectiles.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 10, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:  a) Building #3:  On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, a Big Joe Milling Machine was not secured from moving or walking during use, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by the milling machine.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,071 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.254(d)(9)(iii): Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors were not replaced:    Building #1:  On or about July 12, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that arc welding cables were free of damage to the insulation, exposing the employees to the hazard of heated conductors and electrical shock.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): Standard railing(s) did not consist of top rail, intermediate rail and/or posts and/or did not have a vertical height of 42 inches (106.7 cm) nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform runway, or ramp level:  On or about April 22, 2013, and at times prior thereto, the stairways leading into the main offices did not have an intermediate rail, exposing employees to the hazards of falls.