OSHA Inspection: ARLINGTON METALS CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,320 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:     a) Arlington Metals Corporation did not evaluate their workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces. Affected spaces included at least the following:        - 48" and 73" Slitter Scrap Pit,      - 48" Slitter Line Pit,      - 72" Slitter Scrap Pit,      - 72" Slitter Line Pit, and      - Cut-to-Length Line Pit.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): Floor(s) of workroom(s) were not maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition:    a) Arlington Metals Corporation did not ensure that good housekeeping practices were used in the skid making area of the plant.  There was an excessive accumulation of wood dust present on the floor behind, under and around the DeWalt 18" radial arm saw.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

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 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or the adjusted TWA sound level in dBA for an extended work shift:   An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by Arlington Metals Corporation.   Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA that triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program (HCP) can be adjusted for work shifts less than or greater than 8 hours.  When marking the adjustment, the following formula is used: AL = 90 + 16.61log [50/12.5(hours)].  Affected employees were exposed to continuous noise levels for a 10-hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that triggers the requirement for a HCP was adjusted or reduced for the affected employees to 83.4 dBA.   a) An employee operating the Cut-to-Length Line was exposed to continuous noise levels at 57.1% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA of 57.1% is approximately 86.0 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 476 minutes during one 10-hour work shift on July 31, 2013.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 4 minutes.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Jan 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  a) On or about September 3 and 10, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who voluntarily wore a Liberty Glove & Safety 1895N N95 filtering facepiece respirator, the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, before the filtering facepiece respirator was used during the draining of water from compressor tanks in Bays 2 and 5.

Issued

Dec 5, 2013

Abate by

Dec 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:  a) On July 31, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not ensure that all containers of Quimex Mineral Spirits/66/1% (contains aliphatic hydrocarbon) were labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a) On or about April 20, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program when an employee was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges when he entered the 72" slitter pit to remove scrap metal and other items. The concrete pit was approximately 35 feet deep and contained approximately 250 gallons of an oil substance, including Quaker Chemical Corporation Ferrocote 61 MAL HCL 1, at the time of entry.     b) On or about August 1, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program when an employee was required to wear 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges when he pumped mineral spirits from a 55-gallon drum into individual spray bottles.    c) On or about August 22, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program when an employee was required to wear a Liberty Glove & Safety 1895N N95 filtering facepiece respirator when he cleaned the filters on the 48" and 72" Slitters.    The written respiratory protection program shall include at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations for users; fit-testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; procedures for proper use during routine and emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding and otherwise maintaining respirators; procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow for atmosphere-supplying respirators; training oin respiratory hazards employees are potentially exposed to during routine and emergency situations; training on proper use, donning and removing the respirator, their limitations and their maintenance; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

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:     a) On or about April 20, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, a medical evaluation before the respirator was used to enter and remove scrap metal and other items from the 72" slitter pit.     b) On or about August 1, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, a medical evaluation before the respirator was used to pump mineral spirits from a 55-gallon drum into individual spray bottles.     c) On or about August 22, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a Liberty Glove & Safety 1895N N95 filtering facepiece respirator, a medical evaluation before the respirator was used to clean the filters on the 48" and 72" Slitters.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:    a) On or about April 20, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, a fit test before the respirator was used to enter and remove scrap metal from the 72" slitter pit.    b) On or about August 1, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, a fit test before the respirator was used to pump mineral spirits from a 55-gallon drum into individual spray bottles.    c) On or about August 22, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a Liberty Glove & Safety 1895N N95 filtering facepiece respirator, a fit test before the respirator was used to clean the filters on the 48" and 72" Slitters.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Dec 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

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 April 20, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, respirator training before the respirator was used to enter and remove scrap metal from the 72" slitter pit.    b) On or about August 1, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a 3M 6300/07026 half-mask negative pressure air purifying respirator equipped with organic vapor/P100 cartridges, respirator training before the respirator was used to pump mineral spirits from a 55-gallon drum into individual spray bottles.    c) On or about August 22, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide an employee, who was required to wear a Liberty Glove & Safety 1895N N95 filtering facepiece respirator, respirator training before the respirator was used to clean the filters on the 48" and 72" Slitters.

Issued

Oct 17, 2013

Abate by

Nov 5, 2013

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) and (2) on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:     a) On or about April 20, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide information and training to an employee exposed to a hazardous chemical, Quaker Chemical Corporation Ferrocote 61 MAL HCL 1 (contains mineral oil, sulfonic acids, petroleum, and calcium), before the 72" slitter pit was entered to remove scrap metal and other items.  The pit contained approximately 250 gallons of an oil substance, including Quaker Chemical Corporation Ferrocote 61 MAL HCL 1.        b) On July 31, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide information and training to employees exposed to a hazardous chemical, Quimex Mineral Spirits/66/1% (contains aliphatic hydrocarbon), before it was used to clean the "rubbers" on the 72" slitter and poured over the "rubbers" on the 48" slitter to prevent deterioration.     c) On or about August 1, 2013, Arlington Metals Corporation did not provide information and training to an employee exposed to a hazardous chemical, Quimex Mineral Spirits/66/1% (contains aliphatic hydrocarbon), before it was transferred from its original container to spray bottles.