OSHA Inspection: COLORADO RUBBER AND SUPPLY

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $660 Reduced

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):  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE.  The employer did not determine if respiratory, foot, head, hand, eye, and/or face protection were required when working throughout the facility.  Employees operate a vulcanizer, abrasive wheel grinders, simplex cutter, belt slitter and other tools and equipment in the shop as well as chemicals which require PPE use to prevent over exposures which may cause respiratory, skin and eye irritation.     Abatement note: The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that shall include the following:          (1) Identifies the workplace evaluated;       (2) The person certifying that the evaluation has been performed;       (3) The date(s) that the hazard assessment was performed; and       (4) Which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Sep 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $660 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not ensure a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented in the workplace when the use of respirators were required. The employer required the employees to wear a 3M half-mask elastomeric respirator affixed with 2097 particulate filters when operating the vulcanizer or on job sites when necessary to meet onsite requirements by clients.  Operating the vulcanizer exposes employees to vulcanized rubber which contains butadiene and trichloroethylene. Trichloroethylene is used to clean rubber belting prior to being bonded to rubber cleats.  This may expose employees to respiratory system hazards such as but not limited to upper respiratory tract irritation and central nervous system depression from breathing decomposition products.  These decomposition products are listed on the on the products safety data sheet and include carbon monoxide, carbon oxides, phosgene and halogenated compounds.        Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134 as applicable:  (1)  Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  (2)  Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;  (3)  Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;  (4)  Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $660 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not ensure all forklift operators were trained in operation of powered industrial trucks, in that, the operators were not trained in the use of the battery powered Nissan forklift prior to its use. This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of improper forklift operation.  Abatement Note:  Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $880 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not unsure a method of guarding was in place on the 7" blade affixed to the Simplex cutter located in the shop area near the vulcanizer.  Employees use the cutter to cut raw rubber on a daily basis.   This condition exposed the employees to laceration and amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $660 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)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not ensure that employees were properly using a bench grinder (Ohio Forge, model # MDD-205, Serial # 01675) with a work rest area distance of no greater than 1/8" from the grinding wheel.  The distance between the work rest and wheel was measured to be 11/16 of an inch at the time of the inspection.  Employees use the bench grinder to sharpen belt slitter blades.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of being struck-by parts of the wheel in the event of a grinding wheel failure.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $880 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not unsure a method of guarding was in place on the blue Beltmaster slitter machines chains and sprockets.  Employees work within 2' of the moving chain and sprockets. This condition exposed the employees to in-running pinch points, laceration and amputation hazards.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $660 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)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program which at least described 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 which also included a hazardous chemicals list and methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks.  Employees are using chemicals such as Trichloroethylene with health hazards such as respiratory tract, skin and eye irritation, central nervous system depression, allergic reactions and cancer hazards in humans.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v):    (a)  Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not ensure each container of hazardous chemicals was labeled or marked to indicate the contents.  Employees pour black glue (adhesive UN-1133) from a 5 gal pale into an unlabeled silver 1 quart secondary container for use when fabricating belting. This condition may result in employees using chemicals in an unsafe manner due to lack of knowledge about the chemicals.    Abatement Note: The minimum information required on a chemical label is the:       (1)  Identity of the hazardous chemical(s); and       (2)  Appropriate hazard warnings.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.)  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not maintain a MSDS for each hazard chemical used in the workplace.  Employees use chemicals such as, but not limited to, Trichloroethylene, silicon lubricant spray and SC-2000 Cement.  Employees also heat rubber containing butadiene.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory, skin and eye hazards.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not provide effective information and training to employees regarding the physical and health hazards associated with chemicals including, but not limited to, Trichloroethylene and vulcanized rubber fumes . This condition potentially exposes employees to chemical and physical hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Jul 23, 2014

Abate by

Aug 12, 2014

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $220 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(a): Basic requirement. You must use OSHA 300, 300-A, and 301 forms, or equivalent forms, for recordable injuries and illnesses. The OSHA 300 form is called the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, the 300-A is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and the OSHA 301 form is called the Injury and Illness Incident Report.  (a)Colorado Rubber Supply at 4725 Leyden St. Unit A, Denver, CO 80216: On and before 1/30/14, the employer did not maintain a Log of all Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300), and/or the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, (OSHA Form 300-A), and/or the Injury and Illness Incident Report (OSHA Form 301) or equivalent forms for the previous three years.