OSHA Inspection: THE CERAMIC SHOP

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1360.00 · Current $950.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:    a. First Floor: Glaze Lab; Basement: Plaster Lab- The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, with workplace-specific procedures addressing the major elements of the program.  The employer required employees, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including, but not limited to, silica 325, silica sand, and Hydro-Stone, to wear 3M air-purifying half-mask respirators equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica increases the risk of silicosis and lung cancer. Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator:    A.) First Floor, Glaze Lab - The employer did not ensure that employees were medically evaluated prior to fit testing and initial use of their respirators.  The employer required an employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including silica 325 and silica sand, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  An initial medical evaluation must be conducted prior to fit testing to identify those employees who have medical conditions that contraindicate even the limited amount of respirator use associated with fit testing.  Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013      B.) Basement, Plaster Lab - The employer did not ensure that employees were medically evaluated prior to fit testing and initial use of their respirators.  The employer required an employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including Hydro-Stone, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  An initial medical evaluation must be conducted prior to fit testing to identify those employees who have medical conditions that contraindicate even the limited amount of respirator use associated with fit testing.  Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter:    A.) First Floor, Glaze Lab - The employer did not ensure that employees were fit tested for their respirators prior to initial use of the respirators.  The employer required an employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including silica 325 and silica sand, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can lead to an increase risk of silicosis and lung cancer. Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013    B.) Basement, Plaster Lab - The employer did not ensure that employees were fit tested for their respirators prior to initial use of the respirators.  The employer required an employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including Hydro-Stone, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can lead to an increase risk of silicosis and lung cancer.   Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 05779010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not prohibit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece:    a.) Basement, Plaster Lab - The employer did not prohibit an employee who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face from wearing a half-mask respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece.  The employer required this employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including Hydro-Stone, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  The presence of beards and potentially other types of facial hair can interfere with tight-fitting facepiece seals. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica increases the risk of silicosis and lung cancer.   Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 05779010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator:    a. Basement, Plaster Lab - The employer did not provide employees with information regarding the consequences of improper fit, usage or maintenance on respirator effectiveness.  The employer required an employee, who weighed out and mixed dry ingredients including Hydro-Stone, to wear a 3M air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with 3M Particulate Filters 2091, P100.  This employee had a beard.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica increases the risk of silicosis and lung cancer.   Observed On or About Novermber 13, 2013

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $340.00 · Current $240.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): The employer did not enter each recordable injury or illness on the OSHA 300 Log and 301 Incident Report within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:     a. 3245 Amber Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134 - The employer failed to properly record a recordable work-related injury on the OSHA Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses  (OSHA 300).  Following medical treatment in August of 2013, an employee took one day off from work and returned the next day to perform light duty work.   Observed On or About November 13, 2013.

Issued

2013-12-10 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-01-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    a.) First Floor, Glaze Lab; Basement, Plaster Lab  - The employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program.   Employees worked with and around hazardous materials including, but not limited to, silica 325, silica sand, and Hydro-Stone.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica increases the risk of silicosis and lung cancer. Observed On or About November 13, 2013.