OSHA Inspection: SECOA TECHNOLOGY

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1680.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(7): Dust was permitted to accumulate on the floor or on ledges outside of an abrasive-blasting enclosure, and dust spills were not cleaned up promptly. Aisles and walkways were not kept clear of steel shot or similar abrasive which may have created a slipping hazard:     a) Blast Room: The employer failed to ensure that an accumulation of abrasive blast dust was cleaned up as soon as possible. Employees performing assigned duties in the blast room were exposed to a slipping hazard while walking and working throughout the area.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2800.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): 29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 dBA:    Blast Room:The employer failed to implement a hearing conservation program that included an initial determination of employees exposure to noise; monitoring, audiometric testing and training of exposed employees. Employees were exposed to the hazard of hearing loss while performing assigned work activity involving stainless steel metalizing (thermal arc spraying).     a) The metalizing operator was exposed to continuous noise levels of 86% dose of the permissible 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels (dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 86 % is approximately 89 dBA.  A sampling survey was conducted on May 14, 2014 for approximately 421 minutes. A zero time exposure was assumed for the period of time that was not sampled.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 03720689

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.       The employer failed to ensure that employees utilized personal protective equipment to protect upper and lower extremities while being exposed to hexavalent chromium, red oxide epoxy and other hazardous materials while engaged in coating, metalizing and other assigned duties involving metal finishing.     a) On or about March 25, 2014, a coating operator was exposed to red oxide epoxy while performing coating operations and no face protection was being utilized.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1): A hazard was present or was likely to be present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI); however, the employer did not provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees, and/or did not ensure that employees used such clothing and equipment.     (a) Metalizing Area- The employer failed to ensure that protective clothing was utilized by employees engaged in the metalizing process that were exposed at or above the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) for hexavalent chromium (chromium VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. On May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee's exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes with a severity rate of 2.7. All un-sampled time was calculated as a zero exposure. The employer did not require the use of protective suits to prevent contamination of the metalizing operator's clothing.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3920.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

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) Secoa Technology: The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program to include, medical evaluation, fit test and training for all employees required to utilize a 3M N-95 respirator and North 5500 one half face mask respirator. Employees were exposed to materials such as but not limited to, hexavalent chromium, aluminum oxide and other hazardous materials while engaged in coating, anodizing, abrasive blasting, metalizing and other assigned duties involving metal finishing.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Oil lubricated compressor(s) used to supply breathing air did not have a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm(s) or both:  If only a high-temperature alarm is used, the air supply should be monitored to prevent carbon monoxide in the breathing air to exceed 10 ppm.    (a) Abrasive Blasting Room: The employer did not ensure that the compressed air supplying in plant air to a Clemco hood was monitored to ensure that the employee was breathing high quality air and protected from asphyxiation from carbon monoxide. The employer failed to maintain a continuous carbon monoxide monitoring device or other means to warn abrasive blast operator when levels of carbon monoxide exceeded levels that may be dangerous to the employee's health.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:     a) Production Area: The employer failed to evaluate the workplace and determine if permit required confined spaces were present. Employees and contracted workers were potentially exposed to carbon monoxide, oxygen deficient atmospheres, and other hazards while performing entry into ovens, dust collectors and other spaces to perform duties involving clean-out, retrieval of fallen articles, repair and maintenance of various equipment, replacement of heating elements and other activities requiring the entry into confined spaces.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2940.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 �µg/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).     (a) Metalizing Area- The employer failed to ensure that an employee was not exposed to airborne concentration of chromium VI in excess of  5mg/m3 during the metalizing process. On  May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee's exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes with a severity rate of 2.7. All un-sampled time was calculated as a zero exposure.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit:(a)    (a) Metalizing Area- The employer failed to implement engineering controls, work practices and/or other means to reduce an employees exposure to hexavalent chromium. On May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes. All un-sampled time was calculated as zero exposure.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3920.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):      (a) Metalizing Area- Initial air monitoring was not conducted during the metalizing process to identify employees who may be exposed at or above the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) for hexavalent chromium (chromium VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. On May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee's exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes with a severity rate of 2.7. All un-sampled time was calculated as a zero exposure.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3920.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(2): Demarcation. The employer shall ensure that regulated areas are demarcated from the rest of the workplace in a manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees of the boundaries of the regulated area.     (a) Blast Room: The employer failed to post warning signs or other means to warn personnel that the area is a regulated area. Employees were exposed to the hazards of hexavalent chromium while performing abrasive blasting, performing maintenance and repairs, operating forklifts and other assigned duties in the area. No warning sign or posting was present to indicate that a hazard was present. On May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes. All un-sampled time was calculated as zero exposure.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3920.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i): The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for all employees exposed to hexavalent chromium:     (a) Metalizing Area- The employer failed to provide annual medical surveillance for an employee exposed above the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) for hexavalent chromium (chromium VI) in excess of .5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. On May 14, 2014 air sampling was conducted to monitor an employee's exposure to hexavalent chromium. It was determined that the employee was exposed to a TWA (time weighted average) of 14 ug/cm for approximately 415 minutes with a severity rate of 27. All un-sampled time was calculated as a zero exposure.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3920.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(iii): The employer did not include chromium (VI) in the hazard communication program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), ensure that each employee had access to labels on containers of chromium (VI) and to safety data sheets, and was trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and 29 CFR 1910.1026:     a) Production Area: The employer failed to ensure that all exposed employees were provided training on the hazards of hexavalent chromium, in accordance with the requirements of the hazard communication standard (1910.1200).Employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium while performing duties involving the metalizing of stainless steel.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) Secoa: The employer failed to develop and implement a written hazard communication for all employees exposed to materials such as but not limited to, hexavalent chromium, aluminum oxide, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and other materials while performing activities for the finishing of metal components.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 068917502310A100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:     a) Secoa Technology: The employer failed to certify that a written workplace hazard assessment had been performed that determined what, when and where personal protective equipment would be necessary to protect employees exposed to hexavalent chromium, aluminum oxide, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, red oxide epoxy other hazardous materials. Employees were engaged in coating, anodizing, abrasive blasting, metalizing and other assigned duties involving metal finishing.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 037206860689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(4): The employer did not certify in writing that each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment had received and understood the required training.     a) Secoa Technology: The employer failed to certify in writing that training was performed for employees required to utilize personal protective equipment and that the training was received and understood by the affected employees. Employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium, aluminum oxide, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, red oxide epoxy other hazardous materials while engaged in coating, anodizing, abrasive blasting, metalizing and other assigned duties involving metal finishing.