OSHA Inspection: MOLDRITE PRODUCTS, INC.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

Apr 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

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) In the Molding Department, workers operating the molding machine were potentially exposed to eye contact with Methylene Chloride which was used to purge the mixing chamber of the machine after each pour.  Although safety glasses were provided, the employer did not ensure their use.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

Apr 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:     (a) In Molding Department, workers used compressed for cleaning purposes at a pressure of approximately 80 p.s.i. (when dead-ended).  This condition potentially exposed workers to hazard of air embolism.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

May 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(i)(2): It was reasonably foreseeable that an employee's eyes may contact solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater methylene chloride and the employer did not provide appropriate eyewash facilities within the immediate work area for emergency use:       (a) In the Molding Department, workers operated a molding machine which included a methylene chloride purging cycle, normally activated after every pour.  This operation potentially exposed these workers to eye contact with methylene chloride.  However, there was no provision of appropriate eyewash facilities within the immediate work area for emergency use.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

May 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(3)(i): The employer did not inform each affected employee of the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1052 and the information available in its appendices and/or how to access or obtain a copy of it in the workplace:   (a) In the Molding Department, the workers used Methylene Chloride to purge the mixing chamber of the molding machine after foam was poured.  However, worker(s) performing this operation and working in the vicinity of this operation had not been provided with an overview or summary of the requirements of the Methylene Chloride standard, the information available in its appendices, and how to access the standard and its appendices at this worksite.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 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) For the Molding Department, and other areas of the shop where hazardous chemicals were used, the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include 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; and    6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system; and any precautionary measures to protect employees.      Employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not necessarily limited to Methylene Chloride (a suspected human carcinogen), Elastopor P1001U Isocyanate, RT-16911R Resin, Ease Release 205, and various paints.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

May 16, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1730

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 Molding Department, behind the Decker Industries molding machine, a pressure vessel containing methylene chloride was not labeled with identity of its contents and appropriate hazard warning information.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) For the Molding Department, and other areas of the shop where hazardous chemicals were used,the employer did provide not provide information and training in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) that covered at least the following:   1) An overview or summary of OSHA's Hazard Communication standard  2) Operations in work area(s) where hazard chemicals were present;  3) Location and availability of the company's written hazard communication program, including the list of chemicals and material safety data sheets;    4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace;  5) How workers can detect the presence of hazardous chemicals in the workplace (e.g., by sight or smell, or other means);    6) The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;  7) Precautions workers can take to protect themselves from these hazards: safe work practices, emergency procedures to follow (e.g., if a spill occurred or if an exposure incident occurred requiring 1st aid or medical treatment),  and use of personal protective equipment.     Workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not necessarily limited to Methylene Chloride (a suspected human carcinogen, with other potential hazardous effects), Elastopor P1001U Isocyanate (containing MDI which can cause respiratory sensitization), RT-16911R Resin, Ease Release 205, and various paints.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:     (a) In the Molding Department where the employer provided elastomeric half-face respirators equipped with cartridge filters for voluntary use, but the employer had not established a respiratory  protection program that provided medical evaluations for respirator users.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening whwere they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:(a) (LOCATION) (IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT AND CONDITION(S)) (STATE HAZARD(S) TO EMPLOYEE(S) AND SPECIFY DISTANCE REQUIRED)  (a) Required 3 ft clearance was not maintained in front of the Westinghouse 240 VAC General Duty Safety Switch,  located on the west wall of the Molding Department, because storage carts were in front of it.  (b) Required 3 ft clearance was not maintained in front of a 3 Phase Panel B, an electrical breaker located on the North wall of the Molding Dept, because of equipment stored in front of it.

Issued

Mar 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(2): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to determine each employee's exposure to methylene chloride:   (a) In the Molding Department, apparently no monitoring had been done to determine the methylene chloride exposure of workers operating the molding machine(s) that used methylene chloride as means of purging the mixing chamber after each pour.