OSHA Inspection: INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CO., INC.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Feb 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:Note:  Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.    Employees welding generator base structures were exposed to fall hazards over 5ft while welding panels on the top of the structures and guardrails or other fall protection was not provided.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 07312587

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:    Employees engaged in welding operations on carbon steel and galvanized metal were provided half-mask tight-fitting particulate respirators and the employer had not evaluated the respiratory hazards associated the the metal fumes, particulates and other respiratory hazards in the welding area for selecting and requiring use of the respirator.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Mar 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 07312587

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:    Employees engaged in welding operations on carbon steel and galvanized metal were provided half-mask tight-fitting particulate respirators and the employer had not provided medical evaluations for the employees using the tight-fitting half mask respirators in the workplace.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Mar 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 07312587

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:    Employees engaged in welding operations on carbon steel and galvanized metal were provided half-mask tight-fitting particulate respirators and the employer had not provided fit-testing for the employees using the tight-fitting half mask respirators in the workplace.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Mar 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 07312587

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:    Employees engaged in welding operations on carbon steel and galvanized metal were provided half-mask tight-fitting particulate respirators and the employer had not provided respiratory training for the employees using the tight-fitting half mask respirators in the workplace.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Mar 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 07312587

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(1): Evaluations of the workplace were not conducted to ensure the written respiratory protection program was being effectively implemented:    Employees engaged in welding operations on carbon steel and galvanized metal were provided half-mask tight-fitting particulate respirators and the employer had not conducted workplace evaluations to ensure the respiratory protection program was properly implemented.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Jun 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Copper Fume listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration given for that substance in the table:    Employees performing welding operations was exposed to air-contaminants over the 8-hour time weighted average:         a)  A welding employee in the galvanized welding area on 11/25/13 was exposed to Copper Fume (as Cu) at an 8-hr time-weighted average level of 1.0810 mg/m3, approximately 11 times the limit of 0.1 mg/m3; this limit established to prevent metal fume fever and other illnesses. The welder used The Harris Products Group Silicon Bronze copper base welding wire to weld galvanized metal panels. The exposure level is derived from one sample collected over a 410 minute period.         b)  A welding employee in the galvanized welding area on 11/25/13 was exposed to Copper Fume (as Cu) at an 8-hr time-weighted average level of 0.649 mg/m3, approximately 6.5 times the limit of 0.1 mg/m3; this limit established to prevent metal fume fever and other illnesses. The welder used the Harris Products Group Silicon Bronze copper base welding wire to weld galvanized metal panels. The exposure level is derived from 1 sample collected over a 377 minute period.          c)  A welding employee in the galvanized welding area on 11/25/13 was exposed to Copper Fume (as Cu) at an 8-hr time-weighted average level of 0.9855 mg/m3, approximately 10 times the limit of 0.1 mg/m3; this limit established to metal fume fever and other illnesses. The welder used the Harris Products Group Silicon Bronze copper base welding wire to weld galvanized metal panels. The exposure level is derived from 1 sample collected over a 367 minute period.

Issued

Jan 16, 2014

Abate by

Apr 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    Employees engaged in welding of galvanized steel were exposed to copper fume in exess of the permissible exposure limit and feasible administrative and/or engineering controls were not implemented (see descriptions in item 4a).    General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:         a) Increased ventilation in the galvanized welding area including local exhaust ventilation.           b) An employee rotation program to reduce time of exposure.         c) Material substitution to a welding wire that does not contain as high a content of copper.