OSHA Inspection: ECOCO, INC.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances A614

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 liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors.    a) ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not provide non-vented chemical vapor goggles when employees in the compounding department were mixing hair care products containing ammonium hydroxide which caused eye irritation.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and workplace and user factors that affected respirator performance and reliability.     (a) ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not select and provide appropriate respirator protection based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed. The employee working in the compounding department, was mixing hair care products which contained ammonium hydroxide. The employee was required to use a 3M 5000 series half mask respirator which had half facepiece cartridges for organic vapors/acid gases and 3M 5N11 pre-filters for dust and mists. The employee had the wrong respirator cartridges for the ammonium hydroxide vapor. The employee needed an ammonia respirator cartridge to protect him from the ammonium hydroxide vapor released during ammonium hydroxide compounding operations.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:  a) ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program. The employee was required to wear a 3M 5000 series half mask respirator which had half facepiece cartridges for organic vapors/acid gases and 3M 5N11 pre-filters for dust and mists for employees conducting chemical compounding operations.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:   a) ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employee was required to wear a 3M 5000 series half mask respirator which had half facepiece cartridges for organic vapors/acid gases and 3M 5N11 pre-filters for dust and mists for employees conducting chemical compounding operations.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):  Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:     a) ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not ensure that employees using a tight fitting facepiece respirator were fit tested prior to the initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter. The employee was required to wear a 3M 5000 series half mask respirator which had half facepiece cartridges for organic vapors/acid gases and 3M 5N11 pre-filters for dust and mists for employees conducting chemical compounding operations.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary.  a) ECOCO Inc.  - The employer did not ensure effective training that is comprehensive, understandable, and recurs annually, and more often as necessary, was provided to employees who were required to use respirators. The employee was required to wear a 3M 5000 series half mask respirator which had half facepiece cartridges for organic vapors/acid gases and 3M 5N11 pre-filters for dust and mists for employees conducting chemical compounding operations.

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

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) ECOCO Inc.  -  The employer did not implement at the workplace a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 that describes at least the following:    1) Requirement for labeling of containers or hazardous chemicals:  2) Material safety data sheet(s) 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 of non-routine tasks; and,  6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheets availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.    The employees who conducted packaging and compounding operations were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to SDA 40B 190 Proof Ethanol contains ethanol and t-butanol (Flashpoint 62F), triethanolmine,  STEOL CS-460 contains sodium laureth sulfate (Flashpoint 78F), sorbitol and ammonium hydroxide (pH 13.8).

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i):  The written hazard communication program did not include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using an identity that was referenced on the appropriate material safety data sheet:    a)  ECOCO Inc. - The employer did not ensure a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present was prepared at the worksite, using the identity that is referenced on the appropriate material safety data sheet(s). The list may be compiled for the workplace as a whole or for individual work areas. The employees in the packaging and compounding departments were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to SDA 40B 190 Proof Ethanol contains Ethanol and t-butanol (flashpoint 62F), triethanolmine,  STEOL CS-460 contains sodium laureth sulfate (flashpoint 78F), sorbitol and ammonium hydroxide (pH 13.8).

Issued

Sep 3, 2013

Abate by

Oct 21, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances A614

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.   a) ECOCO Inc.  - The employer did not provide information and training to employees on the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemicals used. The employees in the packaging and compounding departments are exposed to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to SDA 40B 190 proof ethanol contains ethanol and t-butanol (flashpoint 62F), triethanolmine,  STEOL CS-460 contains sodium laureth sulfate (Flashpoint 78F), Sorbitol and ammonium hydroxide (pH 13.8).