OSHA Inspection: HIGHLAND TANK & MANUFACTURING CO INC

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d): Flammable or combustible liquids were not drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container or portable tanks by gravity through an approved self-closing valve:     (a) On or about December 18, 2013, in the facility, for employees pouring xylene from a 55 gallon drum into an open five gallon plastic bucket for transferring. An approved safety can should be used for dispensing from the 55 gallon drum of xylene.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(m)(1): Spraying operations involving the use of organic peroxides and other dual component coatings were not conducted in approved sprinklered spray booths meeting the requirements of this section:    (a) On or about December 18, 2013, in the facility, for employees spraying exterior tank protection Chemthane 3300 Part A and B, a dual component polyol resin blend with flammable liquids, onto four (185) gallon tanks. The spraying was being performed in an approved space area that was not protected by approved automatic sprinkler systems. Per the interpretation letter dated July 14, 2009, this spraying of dual component coatings can be performed in spray areas rather than spray booths but automatic sprinkler systems must be in place to comply with NFPA-33-2007 and this OSHA regulation.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue:    (a) On or about July 24, 2013, in the paint booth, for an employee entering a tank to spray Chemthane 4200 Part A and B interior protective coating. The employer's written confined space entry program stated that local fire departments would be utilized for rescue. Procedures had not been developed with the local fire department to provide rescue services. Entrants were supplied with a safety harness and rope but no anchor or lifting device to perform non-entry rescue.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(i): An employer who designated rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of this section, did not evaluate a prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazard(s) identified:      (a) On or about July 24, 2013, in the paint booth, for an employee entering a tank to spray Chemthane 4200 Part A and B interior protective coating. The employer had designated "911" to provide rescue services but had not evaluated the department's ability to respond.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(1)(v): The employer who had designated rescue and emergency services did not provide the selected rescue team or service with access to all permit spaces from which rescue could be necessary, so that the rescue service could develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations:     (a) On or about July 24, 2013, in the paint booth, for an employee entering a tank to spray Chemthane 4200 Part A and B interior protective coating. The employer had designated "911" to provide rescue services but the local fire department had not visited the site prior to this permit required confined space entry to develop appropriate rescue plans and practice rescue operations.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 23, 2014

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; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:   (a) On or about July 27, 2013, in the facility, for employees wearing disposable 3M P95 respirators, while mixing Saylor's type I-A Portland Cement and Pennsylvania Perlite, both containing crystalline silica in a concrete mixer, prior to being added to Fireguard tanks. The employer has not evaluated the respiratory hazards related to the mixing of these products.

Issued

Jan 23, 2014

Abate by

Feb 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2): The employer did not implement a change schedule for respirators not equipped with an End of Service Life Indicator that would ensure cartridges were changed before the end of their service life:   (a) On or about December 18, 2013, in the facility, for employees wearing 3M full face respirators with organic vapor cartridges, while spraying Chemthane 3300 Part A and B exterior coating on tanks. The employer had not established a change schedule in the written respiratory protection program.