OSHA Inspection: COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(1): The employer did implement an emergency response plan to handle anticipated emergencies prior to commencement of emergency response operations:     a)  On or about October 30th, 2013 the emergency response plan was not implemented when employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.        b) On or about October 30th, 2013 the emergency response plan was not made available to employees who responded and cleand up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv): Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees:     a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, employees responded to and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill that occurred in the Monel EP area.  The employer did not evaluate or perform any site characterization prior to, during or after the incident.  Self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) respirators were not available or provided for employee use.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): When the employer was unable to identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH:      a)  On or about October 30th, 2013 employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill that occurred in the Monel EP area.  No evaluation or monitoring of respiratory hazards was performed and the company did not consider the area to be immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $6,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(v): The individual in charge of the ICS did not limit the number of emergency response personnel at the emergency site, in those areas of potential or actual exposure to incident or site hazards, to those who were actively performing emergency operations:      a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, the First Response Team responded to and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.  The incident commander did not prevent any employees in the area from assisting with the cleanup.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(ix): After emergency operations had terminated, the individual in charge of the incident command system did not implement appropriate decontamination procedures:     a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, no decontamination procedures were performed for First Response Team employees that responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill that occurred in the Monel EP area.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $48,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iii): Based on the hazardous substances and/or conditions present, the individual in charge of the ICS did not implement appropriate emergency operations and did not ensure that the personal protective equipment worn was appropriate for the hazards encountered:     a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.  The incident commander in charge did not evaluate conditions and provide employees responding with personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to respiratory protection or acid resistant clothing.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $48,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii): First responders at the operational level did not receive at least eight hours of training or did not have sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the areas required by 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)(A) through (q)(6)(ii)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify:      a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area by placing absorbing socks and pads to prevent speading of the spill.  These employees were not provided with at least eight hours of training.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $6,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii): Employees who participated as hazardous materials technicians, or were expected to participate as hazardous materials technicians, had not received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level, and in addition have competency in the areas outlined in 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii)(A) through (q)(6)(iii)(I) and/or the employer did not so certify:       a)  On or about October 30th, 2013, employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.  Employees did not have an understanding of the proper response actions, chemical hazards involved or proper protective equipment required to prevent injuries from the acid.  Employees were not provided with at least 24 hours of training.

Issued

Apr 23, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $6,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(v): Incident commanders did not receive at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency in the areas outline in 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(v)(A) through (q)(6)(v)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify:       a)  On or about October 30th, 2013 employees responded and cleaned up a phosphoric/sulfuric acid spill in the Monel EP area.  The incident commander did not perform an evaluation of the spill, implement an incident command system or implement the company emergency response plan.  The incident commander was not provided at least 24 hours of training.