OSHA Inspection: BLASTMASTERS

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

Hazardous substances 8111

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 (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    This violation occurred on August 1, 2013, when the employer had not administered a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise that exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA.  In the abrasive blasting area, a sandblaster was exposed to continuous noise levels at 227.7% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 227.7% is approximately 95.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 142 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 338 minutes.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  This violation was discovered on May 10, 2013, when the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory protection program for employees who wore supplied-air respirators during abrasive blasting operations and air-purifying respirators during painting operations.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:     This violation was discovered on May 10, 2013, when employees who wore supplied-air respirators during abrasive blasting operations and air-purifying respirators during painting operations had not been medically evaluated to determine their fitness to wear the respirators.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Only a high temperature alarm was used on oil lubricated compressor(s) and the air from the compressor was not monitored at intervals to prevent carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air from exceeding 10 parts per million (ppm):  This violation was discovered on May 10, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where an oil-lubricated compressor used to supply breathing air to a sandblaster's respirator was not equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm nor had the employer monitored breathing air for carbon monoxide.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $1200.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(i): Toilet facilities were not provided in accordance with TABLE J-1 of this Section:  This violation was discovered on August 1, 2013, when toilet facilities were not provided for employees at their place of employment.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(i): Lavatory(s) were not made available:  This violation was discovered on August 1, 2013, when lavoratories with running water, hand soap or other cleaning agent, and toweling or warm air blowers, were not provided for employees at their place of employment.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck:                                This violation occurred on August 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where employees operated a forklift without having first completed a training program consisting of formal, practical and evaluation.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2): Employee(s) stood under or passed under the elevated portion of a powered industrial truck(s):  This violation occurred on July 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where employees worked under the elevated portion of a forklift during sandblasting operations.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2000.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(1): Alloy steel chain sling(s) did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach:  This violation was discovered on July 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where employees sandblasted metal parts suspended by a sling that did not have a permanently affixed durable identification.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(3)(ii): Records of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected were not available for examination:  This violation was discovered on July 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where employees sandblasted metal parts suspended by a sling that did not have inspection records available.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2000.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

1910.1000(c): Employee(s) were exposed to respirable crystalline silica quartz, listed in Table Z-3, in excess of the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average concentration:    a.  This violation occurred on August 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where a sandblaster was exposed to respirable dust containing 26-28% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 0.45 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 1.3 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.336 mg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 241 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 239 minutes.  b.  This violation occurred on August 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where a sandblaster was exposed to respirable dust containing 28% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 0.43 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 1.3 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.333 mg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 95 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 385 minutes.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    This violation occurred on August 1, 2013, in the abrasive blasting area, where the employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to respirable dust containing silica to or below the permissible exposure limit during sandblasting operations.

Issued

2013-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  This violation was discovered on August 1, 2013, when the employer had not developed, implemented, and maintained a written hazard communication program for employees performing abrasive blasting who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, silica sand and carbon monoxide.