OSHA Inspection: ADVANCED VALVE DESIGN, INC.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances SL05

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:    a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were permitted to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from inhalation hazards associated with spray painting and welding, and the employer did not develop a written respiratory protection program with the required elements related to voluntary elastomeric respirator use.       b)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were permitted to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from inhalation hazards associated with spray painting and welding, and the employer did not provide medical evaluations to ensure that employees were medically able to wear a respirator.     c)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were permitted to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from inhalation hazards associated with spray painting and welding, and the employer did not implement those elements of the program to ensure that respirators were properly cleaned and stored so that they did not present a health hazard.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances SL05

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:      a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were permitted to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect themselves from inhalation hazards associated with spray painting and welding, and were not provided basic advisory information on respirator use.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances K105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:     a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were using flammable paints for spray painting and acetylene for burning, and were not provided an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.      ABATEMENT NOTE: By this date the employer must either correct the alleged violation or implement a Fire Safety Policy, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and (b) which included the evacuation requirement of 29 CFR 1910.157(b).

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(d): Sling(s) and fastenings were not inspected each day or during use and were not removed from service when damaged or defective:     a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were lifting steel with a hoist and steel chain slings and the slings were not inspected each day or during use and were not removed from service when damaged or defective exposing employees to struck by hazards.      Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(1): Alloy steel sling(s) did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach:       a)  Advanced Valve Design - Left Bay - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while lifting steel with a hoist and steel chain slings, and the steel slings did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach.         b)  Advanced Valve Design - Middle Bay -  On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards while lifting steel with a hoist and steel chain slings, and the steel slings did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach.       Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Aug 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(2)(ii): Makeshift link(s) or fastener(s) formed from bolts, or other such attachment(s) were used to connect links or fastenings on alloy steel chain sling(s):     a)  Advanced Valve Design - Center Bay - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were lifting steel with a hoist and steel chain slings, and the steel chains were connected to the hoist hook with a threaded quick connect link.  Exposing employees to struck-by hazards.      Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:    a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from a pedestal bench grinder, serial number 8047260, that did not have the work rest adjusted to within 1/8 inch of the abrasive grinding wheel.      b)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from a pedestal bench grinder, serial number 8047261, that did not have the work rest adjusted to within 1/8 inch of the abrasive grinding wheel.    Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:     a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from a pedestal bench grinder, serial number 8047260, that did not have a peripheral member at the top that could be adjusted to within 1/4 inch to the wheel periphery.      b)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards from a pedestal bench grinder, serial number 8047261, that did not have the peripheral member at the top adjusted to within 1/4 inch to the wheel periphery.      Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:      a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, Welders were exposed to flying particles and compressed air hazards from air nozzles used for cleaning employees work area, where the dead end pressure exceeded 30 p.s.i.      Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00702150X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), 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)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders such as acetylene and propane, at 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.       Corrected during inspection.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(iii): The employer used the scheduled monitoring option, and monitoring revealed employee exposures to chromium (VI) to be at or above the action level; however, the employer did not perform periodic monitoring at least every six months:       a)  Advanced Valve Design - An employee, a Welder, was exposed to an 8-hour TWA of .0037 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI).  This level is 1.48 times the Action Level of .0025.   This exposure occurred over a 310 minute sampling period on January 24, 2014, and a zero exposure was assumed for the 170 minutes not sampled.   The employer did not conduct monitoring at least every six months after initial sampling results were at or above the Action Level.        Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for all employees who were or could be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year:     a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, a Welder was exposed to an 8-hour TWA of .0037 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI).  This level is 1.48 times the Action Level of .0025.  This exposure occurred over a 310 minute sampling period and a zero exposure was assumed for the 170 minutes.  The employer did not conduct medical surveillance when employees were at or above the action level 30 days or more per year.      Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,200 · Current $1,600 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(i):  The employer did not provide training and information to ensure that employees could demonstrate knowledge of 29 CFR 1910.1026, and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program:    a)  Advanced Valve Design - On or about January 24, 2014, a Welder was exposed to Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI) while conducting stainless steel welding and the employer did not provide information and training to ensure that the employee was knowledgeable of the contents of this section including the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program requirements.     Advanced Valve Design, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312978265, citation number 1, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on August 24, 2010, with respect to a workplace located at 480 Mickley Rd, Whitehall, PA.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jul 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068921502590

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):  The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include training as specified in the 2012 Hazard communication requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(j)(1), an explanation on pictograms, labels received on shipped containers, and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; And the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:      a)  Advanced Valve Design  - On or about January 24, 2014, employees use hazardous chemicals associated with spray painting and welding, and the employer did not  train employees on the meaning of the hazard communication pictograms as well as safety data sheets as specified in the 2012 Hazard Communication Requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(j)(1).       Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.      ABATEMENT NOTE:  Employees shall be informed of the following:  1.  The requirements of this section;  2.  Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present;  3.  The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and Safety Data Sheets.      Employee training shall include at least:  1.  Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemical in the work area.  2.  The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area.  3.  The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures and personal, protective equipment to be used.  4.  The details of the employer's Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of the labels/pictograms received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by the employer; Safety Data Sheets, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.