OSHA Inspection: VELOCITY SERVICES LLC

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Abate by

Jun 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    The employer did not conduct a PPE hazard assessment to inform and advise employees on which type of glove, coverall, and boot is required for the hazards present for each creosote, coal tar, and coal tar pitch railroad tank car being cleaned.  Employees are exposed to dermal irritation hazards.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Abate by

Aug 1, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2): The employer did not implement a change schedule for respirators not equipped with an End of Service Life Indicator that would ensure cartridges were changed before the end of their service life:    Note:  The employer may provide an air-purifying respirator provided the respirator is equipped with end-of-service-life indicators or a change schedule has been developed. Otherwise, the employer must provide an atmosphere-supplying respirator.    The employer did not establish a change schedule for cartridges used when employees are exposed to gas and/or vapor from the physical forces (scraping, jackhammering, blasting) they use on railroad tank cars containing creosote, coal tar, and coal tar pitch.  Employees are subject to potential nasal/throat irritation if no change schedule is initiated.  The respirator cartridges are worn stand-alone and with an airline.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:    The employer did not prepare and implement a written permit required space program for employees making entry into railroad tank cars to remove creosote, coal tar, and coal tar pitch using methods such as, but not limited to, vacuuming, jackhammering, sandblasting and chemical cleaning.  Employees were exposed to physical and chemical hazards.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Abate by

Jun 10, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C): Employees entered into permit spaces that met the conditions set forth in 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(i) but before an employee entered the space, the internal atmosphere was not tested with a calibrated direct-reading instrument:    The employer did not ensure that permit required spaces were always monitored prior to employee entry into the space; employees were potentially exposed to inhalation, physical and skin hazards from products such as creosote, coal tar and coal tar pitch being cleaned from the tank cars.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Abate by

Jun 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(F): Employees entered into permit spaces that met the conditions set forth in 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(i) but the atmosphere within space was not periodically tested to ensure that the continuous forced air ventilation was preventing the accumulation of a hazardous atmosphere:  The employer did not ensure that periodic monitoring of permit spaces was performed where employees had entered railroad tank cars to remove creosote, coal tar, and coal tar pitch, exposing employees to changes in environment that could pose inhalation and product exposure hazards if not monitored.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Abate by

Jun 10, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:    Note:  Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.146 presents examples of permits whose elements are considered to comply with these requirements.    The employer did not complete a written confined space entry permit as elements were missing from completed permits after entry.  Employees were exposed to unknown hazards due to the omissions on the permits.

Issued

Jun 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 07000710C129S910

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:    The employer did not train temporary employees on the hazardous chemicals present in the railroad tank car cleanout process, including, but not limited to, creosote, coal tar, and coal tar pitch which may contain carcinogenic benzene components. This resulted in employees being exposed to inhalation, exposure and skin irritation hazards.