OSHA Inspection: COUNTRYSIDE WELDING, LLC

Issued

Dec 2, 2013

Abate by

Dec 27, 2013

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95 (c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    (a) Blacksmith Area: On or about November 5, 2013, an employee pounding and shaping carbon steel was exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 dbA. The employer did not implement an effective hearing conservation program in that baseline / annual audiometric testing was not conducted. Noise sampling performed for 438 minutes indicated exposure to a 151.4% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 92.9 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 42 minutes not sampled.      (b) Blacksmith Area: On or about November 5, 2013, an employee doing welding and layout work was exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 dbA. The employer did not implement an effective hearing conservation program in that baseline / annual audiometric testing was not conducted. Noise sampling performed for 425 minutes indicated exposure to a 77.33% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 88.1 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 55 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Dec 2, 2013

Abate by

Dec 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:    (a) Main Shop: On or about November 5, 2013, employees were exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards due to storing oxygen cylinders in close proximity to acetylene cylinders.

Issued

Dec 2, 2013

Abate by

Dec 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 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) Main Shop: On or about November 5, 2013, the Employer did not maintain a written Hazard Communication Program; the employer uses chemicals including but not limited to: Brody Chemical (Ethoxylated Nonyl Phenol) and Blaster PB Penetrating Catalyst (Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether, Petroleum Distillates, Solvent Naphtha).