OSHA Inspection: VESUVIUS USA CORPORATION

Issued

Sep 11, 2013

Abate by

Oct 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $4,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee required to use 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:  On or about April 30, 2013, in the facility, employees required to work in the "additions room" were required to wear tight-fitting filtering facepiece respirators.  The employer did not ensure that employees were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator and at least annually thereafter.  Employees were exposed to the hazard of contact with refractory materials/dust including, but not limited to, crystalline silica.

Issued

Sep 11, 2013

Abate by

Oct 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer shall evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces. NOTE: Proper application of the decision flow chart in Appendix A to section 1910.146 would facilitate compliance with this requirement:  On or about April 30, 2013, in the facility, the employer did not properly evaluate confined spaces including, but not limited to, Dry Line mixers and Plastic Line skip-bucket pits, to determine if the spaces were permit-required confined spaces.  Employees were required to enter the mixers and pits for cleaning and maintenance.

Issued

Sep 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces. NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign:  On or about April 30, 2013, in the facility, danger signs were not posted on the following spaces evaluated by the employer as permit spaces:  a. Dry Line 6 Hopper b. Binder Room Mixing Tank A & B c. Binder Room Storage Tank 1 & 2

Issued

Sep 11, 2013

Abate by

Oct 29, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $4,400

Hazardous substances 9010

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:  On or about April 30, 2013, in the facility, the employer did not provide effective training to employees required to work with materials containing respirable crystalline (quartz) silica, including, but not limited to, the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area.