OSHA Inspection: SUBINAS USA, LLC

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 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 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  (a) Production Area: On or about July 31, 2013, the employer failed to implement a continuing effective  hearing conservation program when employees were exposed to continuous noise at a level of 67.2 percent of PEL dose.    Employees working in the production area, operating coiling machines,  were exposed to continuous noise at a level of 67.2 percent of the PEL dose. The equivalent dBa for 67.2 percent of the dose is approximately 87.1 dBa calculated as the 8 hour time weighted average sound pressure level. The monitoring was conducted on July 31, 2013 for 366 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 114 minutes of the day.  An effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) shall consist of the following: Section (c): The employer shall develop and implement a hearing conservation program. Section (d): The employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program. Section (e): The employer shall notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring. Section (f): The employer shall provide affected employees or their representatives with an opportunity to observe any noise measurements conducted pursuant to this section. Section (g):  The employer shall establish an audiometric testing program. Section (h):  The employer shall implement the audiometric testing requirements. Section (i):   The employer shall provide hearing protectors and require use based on this section requirements. Section (j):   The employer shall evaluate the hearing protectors attenuation. Section (k):   The employer shall establish an employee training program. Section (1):  The employer shall provide employee access to information and training materials. Section (m):  The employer shall develop and maintain a recordkeeping program. Section (n):  Appendices Section (o):  Exemptions

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  (a) Production Areas - On or about July 30, 2013, the employer failed to complete a hazard assessment to determine the proper personal protective equipment  for employee use.  Employees worked with chemicals such as but not limited to ZEP Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreaser,  a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide and requires the use of a face shield or splash goggles and chemical gloves.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  (a) Production Area: On or about July 30, 2013, the employer failed to provide eye or face protection when employees worked with ZEP Industrial Purple Degreaser, a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  (a) Production Area: On or about July 30, 2013, the employer failed to require employees to use heavy chemical gloves, such as but not limited to neoprene gloves when employees worked with ZEP Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreaser,  a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide and requires the use of chemical gloves.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c):  Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a) Production Area: On or about July 30, 2013, the employer failed to provide quick drenching facilities for employees that work with ZEP Industrial Purple Degreaser,  a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,040 · Current $1,020 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Grinding machinery was not used with work rest(s) to support offhand grinding work:   (a) Tool Shop: On or about July 30, 2013, the left and right peripheral members of the RYOBI, 6 inch abrasive bench grinder, model number BGH6110SB,  serial number  FG 122721346 was operated without a work rest to support offhand grinding work.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): Guard for abrasive wheel machine where the operator stands in front of the machine was not constructed so that the peripheral protecting member could be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel:   (a) Tool Shop: On or about July 30, 2013, the left and the right peripheral member of a RYOBI, 6 inch abrasive wheel bench grinder, model number BGH6110SB, serial number FG 122721346 was operated without the use of adjustable tongue guards.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2260

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:  (a) Production Areas - On or about July 30, 2013, the employer failed to develop and implement a hazard communication program.  Employees worked with chemicals such as but not limited to ZEP Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreaser, a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide.

Issued

Aug 8, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training 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) Production Areas - On or about July 30, 2013, employees who worked with hazardous chemicals had not received training on the hazards associated with the chemicals nor on which protective measures were required when working with those chemicals. Employees worked with chemicals such as but not limited to ZEP Industrial Purple Cleaner and Degreaser, a corrosive chemical with a pH of 13 - 14, which contains sodium hydroxide.