OSHA Inspection: NEW ENGLAND ELECTROPOLISHING CO., INC.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Sep 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2): The employer did not develop an emergency response plan for emergencies which addressed the following minimum requirements of this standard: 1910.120(q)(2)(i) through 1910.120(q)(2)(xii):    Establishment:    For employees who were designated to respond to large spills of hazardous materials including, but not limited to, 50% sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, electro-polishing solutions, and Metex IC (potassium hydroxide), employer did not develop and implement an emergency response plan that adequately addressed all requirements in this section such as:    a) Personnel roles, lines of authority, training and communication.  b) Safes distances and places of refuge.  c) Site security and control.  d) Decontamination.  e) Emergency alerting and response procedures.  f) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and emergency equipment.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Sep 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii): First responders at the operational level did not receive at least eight hours of training or did not have sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the areas required by 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)(A) through (q)(6)(ii)(F) and/or the employer did not so certify:     Establishment:        Employer failed to ensure that employees who were responsible for responding to releases of hazardous materials, including but not limited to, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, electro-polishing solutions, and potassium hydroxide, demonstrated and employer so certify that employees demonstrated competency in elements including, but not limited to:   a)   Knowledge of the basic hazard and risk assessment techniques.   b)   Know how to perform basic control, containment and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal equipment available with their unit.   c)  Know how to perform basic containment or and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available within their unit.   d)  An understanding of the relevant standard operating procedures and termination procedures.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Jun 23, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,190 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:     Establishment:     Employer did not ensure the use of arm and body protection for employees who perform electro-polishing and were exposed to hazardous materials such as electro-polishing solutions that contained corrosive sulfuric and phosphoric acid and wastewater treatment chemicals such as sodium hydroxide.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Sep 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,190 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:    Establishment:    Employer did not develop and implement a written Hazard Communication Program that included all required elements for employees who were exposed to various electro-polishing solutions and waste water treatment chemicals such as nitric acid, potassium and sodium hydroxide, and Metex IC.

Issued

May 2, 2014

Abate by

Sep 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:   Establishment:   Employer did not include in the hazard communication program, an explanation of the new label elements and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) format for employees exposed to hazardous materials such as electro-polishing solutions, nitric acid, sodium and potassium hydroxide.