OSHA Inspection: DIRT BUSTERS CLEANING, LLC

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:       (a)  The employer had not adequately assessed the hazards associated with handling and using Basic G, a corrosive liquid, which potentially exposed workers to the hazards of burns to the skin (e.g., forearms) and eyes. The employer provided nitrile gloves, but additional personal protective equipment (PPE), such as protective sleeves and safety eyewear, were not provided by the employer.       (b)  The employer had not adequately assessed the hazards associated with clean up of vomit in home(s) of cancer patient(s).  Vomit from cancer patients could contain hazardous chemotherapy drugs.  Exposure to such drugs  could potentially cause a variety of toxic effects, including skin rashes and adverse reproductive effects.  The only personal protective equipment provided consisted of nitrile gloves.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $500.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used  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) When opening and dispensing from squeeze bottle containers of Basic G, a corrosive liquid, workers were potentially exposed to eye contact, which could result in burns and eye damage.  However, no safety eyewear was provided or worn.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $850.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i): The employer having employee(s) with occupational exposure did not establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure: (a) No exposure control plan had been established to minimize exposure of residential cleaning workers to bloodborne pathogens.  While performing residential cleaning, these worker periodically encountered blood on surfaces in bathrooms and, at times, they were also exposed to the hazard of used sharps (e.g., hypodermic needles) which had not been safely disposed of by customers.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(1)(i): The employer did not make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have occupational exposure:     (a)  The employer did not make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to workers performing residential cleaning were periodically exposed to blood on bathroom surfaces and to the hazard of sharps (e.g., hypodermic needles) which had not been properly disposed by residents.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee with occupational exposure participated in a training program: (a) Workers that performed residential cleaning periodically encountered blood on bathroom surfaces and at times encountered sharps (e.g., used syringes that had not been properly disposed by the resident) and thus were potentially exposed to the hazard of bloodborne pathogens.  However, no bloodborne pathogen training program has been provided in accordance with this standard.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

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) The employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that included at least the following:    1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals;  2) Material safety data sheet availability;  3) Training of employees;  4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace;  5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards on non-routine tasks (for example, cleaning vomit of cancer patients)    Employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including Basic G Concentrated Germicide (a corrosive chemical, which could cause burns to eyes and skin), Basic H Concentrated Organic Cleaner, Soft Scrub with Bleach Cleanser, Kaboom Foamtastic Bathroom Cleaner, and Vinager (containing approximately 5% acetic acid).

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity and appropriate hazard warnings regarding the chemicals contained therein:(a) In the employer's garage, where chemical cleaning products were stored for use by worker(s) performing residential cleaning, a portable squirt bottle containing Basic G (a corrosive germicidal chemical) was not labeled with its identity and an appropriate hazard warning.

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not ensure that material safety data sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift:   (a) Material safety data sheets for cleaning chemicals were not readily accessible to workers performing residential cleaning.  For example, the employer did not maintain and make available the material safety data sheets for either Soft Scrub with Bleach and Kaboom Foamtastic Bathroom Cleaner (both products could cause skin and eye irritation).

Issued

2013-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-10-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h): Employees were not provided effective information and training as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) and (h)(2) on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced: (a) Workers performing residential cleaning were not provided adequate training regarding the hazards of the chemicals they used, such as Basic G Concentrated Germicide, regarding container labeling information, regarding the information contained in material safety data sheets and how access would be provided to those, regarding precautions workers could take to protect themselves from exposure, and first aid measures to follow if an exposure incident were to occur.  In addition, adequate training was not provided on the hazards of non-routine tasks, such as cleaning vomit of a cancer patient.