OSHA Inspection: SAFE AIR OF ILLINOIS, INC.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Oct 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $893 Reduced

Hazardous substances 246025052590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(i): "Construction." Inside storage rooms shall be constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction shall comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system shall be designed and installed in an acceptable manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid-tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows shall be protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, for Class E or F openings. Wood at least 1 inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay, and similar installations.     a. Spray Painting Department/Chemical Storage Room - On or about July 30, 2013, the storage room that contained flammable liquids (Class  1B and Class 1C) was not provided with the following requirements. Employees were thereby exposed to to the hazards of fire and explosion.     1. The chemical storage room was not equipped with a self closing door in that when it closed showed that it had a gap between the door and the entrance's door threshold. Also, it was evident that there were some gaps around the door's wooden frame.    2. The chemical storage room's floor was not at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor.     3. The chemical storage room's floor was not equipped with an open-grated trench inside the room.    4. The chemical storage room did not have a sill or ramp inside the room.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Oct 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 153424602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(3)(v):  Ventilation - Areas using Class I liquids shall be ventilated at a rate of not less than 1 cubic foot per minute per square foot of solid floor area.  a. Chemical storage room/paint room - On or about July 30, 2013, the employer had an storage room with flammable liquids (Class 1B and Class 1C) that was not ventilated to the outside of the building. Employees were exposed  to the hazards of fire and and explosion.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,517 · Current $759 Reduced

Hazardous substances 153424602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(3): Floors. The floor surface of a spray booth and operator's working area, if combustible, shall be covered with noncombustible material of such character as to facilitate the safe cleaning and removal of residues.  a. Spraying Booth Area - On or about July 30, 2013, the employees were required to conduct spray painting operations using flammable liquids ( Class 1B and Class 1C) and the flooring material was made of combustible material such as cardboard. Employees were exposed to the hazards of fire and explosion.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 153424602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(3): Residue disposal. Residue scrapings and debris contaminated with residue shall be immediately removed from the premises and properly disposed of. Approved metal waste cans shall be provided wherever rags or waste are impregnated with finishing material and all such rags or waste deposited therein immediately after use. The contents of waste cans shall be properly disposed of at least once daily or at the end of each shift.  a. Spray Painting Booth and Flammable Storage Room - On or about August 6, 2013, employees were required to conduct spray painting operations with Class 1 Flammable materials and were not provided with an approved waste container for rags and other waste cloth materials.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 153424602590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(7): "No Smoking" signs. "No smoking" signs in large letters on contrasting color background shall be conspicuously posted at all spraying areas and paint storage rooms.  a. Flammable materials Areas - On or about July 30, 2013, employees were  require to conduct painting operations using flammable liquids (Class 1B and Class 1C) in an areas without a sign reading "No Smoking". Employees were thereby potentially exposed to the hazards of fire and explosion. The areas missing a sign reading "No Smoking" were the following;  1. The Spray painting room was missing a sign reading - "No Smoking."  2. The Chemical storage room was missing a sign reading - "No Smoking."

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $893 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8370

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(1)(ii): Screens. When welding must be performed in a space entirely screened on all sides, the screens shall be so arranged that no serious restriction of ventilation exists. It is desirable to have the screens so mounted that they are about 2 feet (0.61 m) above the floor unless the work is performed at so low a level that the screen must be extended nearer to the floor to protect nearby workers from the glare of welding.  a. Welding Departments - on or about July 22, 2013, employees were required to walk through welding areas which  were not totally screened on all sides. Employees were thereby exposed to radiation hazards. The few portable welding curtains available at the company were found with the following conditions;  1. The welding area on the industrial department/southend of the building had one (1) portable welding curtain that was missing part of its floor base tubular frame and their tie straps were loose.   2.  The welding area on the northside of the building (aluminum & tig section) did not have welding screens on the walking aisle way.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Oct 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0731152016202610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment;  a. Welding Department - On or about July 22, 2013, employees were provided with personal protective equipment such as welding jackets, welding aprons, welding gloves, welding sleeves, and others during welding operations. The employer had not verified that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed through a writen certification.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Oct 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3)(ii)(H): Closed environments and other areas where insufficient ventilation or poor vehicle maintenance could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust;  a. Shipping and Receiving Area - On or about August 6, 2013, employees required to operate propane powered forklift trucks were exposed to a buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) while in closed environments. Employees were thereby exposed to the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning.  The carbon monoxide gas levels found at the propane powered forklift truck's tail pipes were the following;  1. The Komatsu # 25-forklift truck ( Serial # 4060328A and Model # EG25SL11) had a carbon monoxide level of 1.44 % when idling and of 10.32 % at full throttle.   2. The Clark # 6-forklift truck (Serial # GCX25C00108900 and Model # M#GCX25C) had a carbon monoxide level of 3.24 % when idling and of 4.36 % at full throttle.

Issued

Sep 4, 2013

Abate by

Sep 16, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Chemical manufacturers and importers shall obtain or develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Employers shall have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.  a. Warehouse/Shipping and Receiving - On or about August 6, 2013, the employer did not have a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for carbon monoxide gas produce at the tail pipes of poorly maintained propane powered forklift trucks. Employees were potentially exposed to the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning. The carbon monoxide levels found were the following;  1. The Komatsu #25 (Serial #4060328A and Model # EG25SL11) had carbon monoxide level reading at 1.44 % when idling and 10.32 % at full throttle.  2. The Clark #6 (Serial #GCX25C00108900 and Model # GCX25C) had carbon monoxide levels reading between 0.91 through 3.24 % when idling and 4.36 % at full throttle.