OSHA Inspection: STERLING ETHANOL, LLC

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Nov 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer did not determine, in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or (d)(3) of this section, the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):      (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer did not determine, in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or (d)(3) of this section, the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI).  Employees perform welding on stainless steel parts.  This condition could result in employees wearing inappropriate respiratory protection for the situation and exposure to hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Nov 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1): In addition to the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, the employer did not comply with section (l)(2) of this standard:    (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there was exposure to chromium (VI) were provided with information and training as required by section (l)(2) of this standard.  Employees perform welding on stainless steel parts.  This condition could result in employee exposure to hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Oct 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(d)(6): Chemical manufacturers, importers, or employers did not describe in writing the procedures used to determine the hazards of the chemical they evaluated:    (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer did not describe in writing the procedures used to determine the hazards of the chemicals they evaluated.  The employer manufactured the product fuel ethanol without following a written hazard determination procedure.

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Oct 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2)(vi): Each material safety data sheet (MSDS) for hazardous chemicals did not contain at least the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL), ACGIH  Threshold Limit Value (TLV), and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, where available:                                                           (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer manufactured the product fuel ethanol.  The employer developed and supplied a MSDS for this product that did not contain the OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) and ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLV) for ethyl alcohol.     (b) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer manufactured the product fuel ethanol.  The employer developed and supplied a MSDS for this product that did not contain the correct ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLV) for benzene.     (c) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer manufactured the product fuel ethanol.  The employer developed and supplied a MSDS for this product that did not contain the OSHA and ACGIH short term exposure limits for benzene.

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Oct 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):  The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):    (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer did not ensure through written verification that a workplace personal protective equipment (PPE) hazard assessment had been performed.  This condition potentially exposes employees to injuries to the eyes, face, respiratory system, head, feet, and hands.    Abatement note: The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that shall include the following:          (1) Identifies the workplace evaluated;       (2) The person certifying that the evaluation has been performed;       (3) The date(s) that the hazard assessment was performed; and       (4) Which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.

Issued

Aug 29, 2013

Abate by

Nov 3, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace which includes a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards:  (a) Sterling Ethanol, LLC, 450 Angus Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751: On and before 6/20/12, the employer did not evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) such as ethanol, methanol, hexane, pentane, and benzene while employees are loading railcars.  This condition could potentially expose employees to a respiratory hazard.