OSHA Inspection: RACINE FLAME SPRAY INC.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

May 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 1910.9(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) The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  The HVOF spray applicator working in the back room was exposed to continuous noise at 813 % of the permissible noise exposure (8-hourTtime Weighted Average sound level of 85 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 105 dBA during the 404 minute sampling period on March 4, 2014.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 76 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

May 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    (a) A written respiratory Protection Program and all of it's requirementrs was not developed and implemented.  Portions of the facility during certain operations require employees to use respiratory protection.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

May 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  (a) Employees required to wear respiratory protection during HVOF spray applications in the back room were not medically evaluated to determine if they were physically fit to wear a respirator.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

May 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  (a) Employees required to use respirators in the back room during HVOF spray applications were not provided a qualitative or quantitative fit test to protect employees from metal fumes and particulates.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

Apr 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Cobalt listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.1 mg/m3:    (a) The employee operating the HVOF spray application in the back room was exposed to Coblt dust or fume at an 8-hour time weighted average of 0.188 mg/m3, approximately 1.88 times the limit of 0.1 mg/m3.  This limit iis established to prevent respiratory hypersensitivity and asthma.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 80 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):  (a) The employer did not utilize feasible engineering or administrative controls to prevent employee over exposure to Coblat dust and fume.  The employee operating the HVOF spray application in the back room was exposed to Coblt dust or fume at an 8-hour time weighted average of 0.188 mg/m3, approximately 1.88 times the limit of 0.1 mg/m3.  This limit iis established to prevent respiratory hypersensitivity and asthma.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 80 minutes not sampled   An abatement plan is required by 29 CFR Part 1903 and is to be submitted within twenty-five (25) calendar days after the final order date.    The abatement plan is to contain the steps being taken to abate the violation, a schedule for achieving abatement, and the interim measures being taken to protect employees.  Ninety (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.    Step 1:  Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented, or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.    Step 1 abatement date is xx/xx/2012.  Step 2:  Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: 1.     Evaluation of engineering and/or administrative control options; 2.     Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; 3.     Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures; 4.     Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    Step 2 abatement date is xx/xx/2012.  Step 3:  Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.

Issued

Apr 10, 2014

Abate by

May 28, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) The employer did not establish and implement a written Hazard Communication Program where various welding wires and metal powders were used in the metal spray coating operations where exposing employees to the hazards of sensitization and allergic reactions from skin contact or inhalation exposures.