OSHA Inspection: SURE CAST, INC.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-08-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:  In the shell room, employees were using an open-sided platform to access rainfall sander components for repairs and maintenance, exposing employees to the hazards of falling at least 10 feet to the concrete floor.  Abatement Note: Reference 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1):  A standard railing shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail and posts, and shall have a vertical height of 42 inches (106.7 cm) nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-08-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9015

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(4)(iii): The air exhausted from blast-cleaning equipment was not discharged through dust collecting equipment:  In the Caustic Room, where employees were using the steel shot blaster to clean castings, dust from the shot blaster containing Crystalline Christobalite was discharged from an exhaust duct to an open container beside the blaster, so that it was contaminating the work area, exposing employees to the hazards of chemical inhalation.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9015

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  a) In the Finishing Department, airborne exposures were not evaluated for employees who were exposed to respirable silica, crystalline cristobalite while operating the separator, exposing employees to the hazards of chemical inhalation.   b) In the Caustic Room, airborne exposures were not evaluated for employees who were exposed to respirable silica, crystalline cristobalite while operating blasting equipment, exposing employees to the hazards of chemical inhalation.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1260.00 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) In the Finishing Department, where employees were using a blasting cabinet to clean ceramic out of inclusions in castings, the foot pedal control for the hand-held blasting nozzle did not have a guard, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by abrasive material.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-08-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 90109015

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:  a) At the inspection site, chemical hazard communication training provided to employees did not include information on how to protect themselves from silica dust while performing maintenance on equipment including, but not limited to, the knock out hammer, including use of work practices for dust control. Use of vacuums with HEPA filters in lieu of compressed air for cleaning would be one such work practice control.   b) At the inspection site, employees were not trained to minimize exposure to silica dust by keeping dust collection drums and containers covered and equipment, ledges and floors clear of dust accumulations. Silica, Crystalline Cristobalite was found in bulk samples of dust collected from the window ledge in the Final Inspection Department, from the hose rack and floor behind the knockout hammer cabinet, the top of the steel shot blasting cabinet and the open dust collection can in the Caustic Room, and in open-top dust collection drums stored in covered area outside, beside open overhead door to the cut off area.

Issued

2014-08-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $420.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 90109015

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1020(d)(1)(ii): Each employee exposure record was not preserved and maintained for at least thirty years:  a) At the inspection site, the employer did not maintain reports of employee air sampling for silica and other airborne contaminants conducted by Penn General Service Corporation on May 18, 1994, Texas Worker's Compensation Commission Occupational Safety & Health Consultation in 1995, and Travelers Loss Prevention & Engineering on or about March 14, 1997 and at times prior thereto.