OSHA Inspection: DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS/VANIHCS

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    (a) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures in their written respiratory program for how they selected the respirators being worn in their workplace.    (b) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures in their written respiratory program for the methods and procedures used to fit test respirators.  The employer only stated that they used a quantitative and qualitative fit test.    (c) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures in their written respiratory program for the procedures on the proper use of their respirators for routine and emergency situations.    (d) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures and schedules in their written respiratory program for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, discarding and maintaing respirators.      (e) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures in their written respiratory program for evaluating their respiratory program.      (f) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer did not include procedures in their written respiratory program for the change out schedule for cartridges and canisters.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    (a) On or about May 15, 2013: It was determined that custodian and maintenance employees, who were required to wear a respirator, were not instructed on how to clean, inspect or maintain their respirators. Employees were exposed to tuberculosis, H1N1 and asbestos.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:     (a) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer had not conducted a periodic or annual inspection of the energy control procedures on equipment such as the boiler, chiller and transformer.  Employees were being exposed to hazardous energy, which could result in burns or electrocution.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):     (a) On or about May 15, 2013: The employer had not provided a written purpose for the energy control procedure, specific procedures for the control of energy and placement of locks, and verification that the energy was controlled for machines such as but not limited to the transformers, boilers, and chillers.  The lack of sufficient energy control procedures exposed employees to electrical, steam, and other sources of energy.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i): Employees working in areas where there were potential electrical hazards were not provided with electrical protective equipment that was appropriate for the specific parts of the body that needed to be protected and for the work being performed:  (a) On or about May 15, 2013: Employees are required to work with energized 480 volt transformers in order to troubleshoot and are exposed to potentially stored energy within the capacitors. The employees are not provided electrical gloves, uniforms or other personal protective equipment to prevent burns or possible electrocution.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.335(a)(2)(i): When working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts, each employee did not use insulated tools or handling equipment when the tools or handling equipment might have made contact with such conductors or parts:  (a) On or about May 15, 2013: Employees are required to work with energized 480 volt transformers in order to troubleshoot and are exposed to potentially stored energy within the capacitors. The employees were not provided with insulated tools in order to safely work with or near energized conductors without being exposed to possible electrocution or electrical burns.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(7)(iv): The employer did not train employees who performed housekeeping operations in areas containing presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) and/or other asbestos-containing material (ACM) at least once a year:  (a) On or about May 15, 2013: It was determined that housekeeping staff had not received annual asbestos awareness training. Employees were exposed to hazards related to working with PACM and ACM.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(i): The employer did not ensure participation in the asbestos training program by each employee who was likely to be exposed to asbestos in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), or for each employee engaged in Class I through Class IV asbestos operations:  (a) On or about May 15, 2013: It was determined that carpenters were required to remove tile, cut and saw counter tops, doors and walls, which were surveyed to be asbestos containing.  The carpenters are performing Class II or III asbestos operations without the proper training thereby exposing them to asbestos.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): A Log of all recordable work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA Form 300 or equivalent), was not completed in detail as required by the regulation.    (a)  On the 2013 OSHA 300 log, column F was not completed in the detail required as the illness or injury was not described, the body part affected was not stated and the object or substance involved was not identified.  This was noted for all toxic exposure/ enviromental exposure cases reported from March 21st to April 17th of 2013.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:    (a) On or about May 15, 2013: A personal protective equipment hazard assessment was not completed for employees who work in the surgical area and for employees who are exposed to H1N1 or other similar viruses.

Issued

2013-09-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1020(g)(1): Upon an employee's first entering into employment, and at least annually thereafter, the employer did not inform current employees covered by this section:    (a) On or about May 15, 2013: It was determined that the employees had not been informed annually or upon entering into employment about the right to access their medical and exposure records as required by 29 CFR 1910.1020(g)(1)(i) through (g)(1)(iii).