OSHA Inspection: ENERGY ONE AMERICA, LLC

Issued

Oct 28, 2013

Abate by

Nov 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i) as referenced by 29 CFR 1926.103: The employer shall select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.  a.)  Energy One America, Naval Station Norfolk, Building KK, Crawl Space:  On or about 07/24/13, an employee spraying foam insulation was over exposed to methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI).  The employee was wearing an improper respirator in that the filter was not suitable for exposures to MDI, creating an exposure to toxic substance hazard.

Issued

Oct 28, 2013

Abate by

Nov 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Exposure of employees to inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or contact with any material or substance at a concentration above those specified in the "Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970" of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, shall be avoided. See Appendix A to this section.  a.)  Energy One America, Naval Station Norfolk, Building KK, Crawl Space:  On or about 07/24/13, an employee spraying foam insulation was exposed to methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI) at a 15 minute Ceiling Level of 0.49 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  This is 2.45 times greater than the Ceiling Level of 0.20 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  Sampling was conducted on 07/24/13 for 15 minutes.

Issued

Oct 28, 2013

Abate by

Nov 15, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): To achieve compliance with paragraph (a) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and technical measures used for this purpose must first be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1926.103.  a.)  Energy One America, Naval Station Norfolk, Building KK, Crawlspace:  Engineering and work practice controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposures to methylene bisphenyl isocyanate (MDI) to levels below the Ceiling level of 0.20 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  The results of air sampling conducted on 07/24/13 indicated that employees performing spray foam insulation operations were exposed to MDI at a ceiling level of 0.49 milligrams per cubic meter of air.   ABATEMENT NOTE: Feasible engineering and work practice controls may include the following: 1.)  Local exhaust ventilation. 2.)  Use of a longer spray gun. 3.)  Train employees in work practices to reduce exposure.