OSHA Inspection: COLORADO SODA BLASTING

Issued

Sep 5, 2014

Abate by

Sep 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(d)(1)(i): Each employer who has a workplace or operation covered by this standard shall initially determine if any employee may be exposed to lead at or above the action level.  a) Colorado Soda Blasting at 22685 HWY 392 in Greeley, CO: On or about March 22, 2014,  the employer did not perform an initial exposure assessment for lead.  Employees used abrasive blasting machine to remove paint residues off a brick wall without first determining if the residual paint contained lead.  The worksite was an older residence, built prior to 1970, which was undergoing lead-paint abatement when Colorado Soda Blasting was hired by the homeowners.  The analysis of the wipe samples found 127-343 mg/m3 lead in the dust left on various surfaces.  The employees were exposed to lead-contaminated airborne dust for a period of approximately 30 minutes.  This condition exposed employees to a lead hazard.

Issued

Sep 5, 2014

Abate by

Sep 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(l)(1)(i): Hazard communication. The employer shall include lead in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (� 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of lead and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (l) of this section. The employer shall ensure that at least the following hazards are addressed:          (A): Reproductive/developmental toxicity;         (B): Central nervous system effects;         (C): Kidney effects;         (D): Blood effects; and         (E): Acute toxicity effects.   a) Colorado Soda Blasting at 22685 HWY 392 in Greeley, CO: On or about March 22, 2014,  did not provide Lead Hazard Awareness training to employees conducting lead-paint abatement with a soda blasting machine.  This condition exposed employees to lead hazards as they were not aware of the proper procedures and protective measures required for lead abatement.

Issued

Sep 5, 2014

Abate by

Sep 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(l)(2): "Training program". The employer shall assure that each employee is trained in the following:  (i): The content of this standard and its appendices;  (ii): The specific nature of the operations which could result in exposure to lead above the action level;  (iii): The purpose, proper selection, fitting, use, and limitations of respirators;  (iv): The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program, and the medical removal protection program including information concerning the adverse health effects associated with excessive exposure to lead (with particular attention to the adverse reproductive effects on both males and females and hazards to the fetus and additional precautions for employees who are pregnant);  (v): The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment including training of employees to follow relevant good work practices described in Appendix B of this section;  (vi): The contents of any compliance plan in effect;  (vii): Instructions to employees that chelating agents should not routinely be used to remove lead from their bodies and should not be used at all except under the direction of a licensed physician; and  (viii): The employee's right of access to records under 29 CFR 1910.20.  a) Colorado Soda Blasting at 22685 HWY 392 in Greeley, CO: On or about March 22, 2014,  did not provide Lead Hazard Awareness training to employees conducting lead-paint abatement with a soda blasting machine.  This condition exposed employees to lead hazards as they were not aware of the proper procedures and protective measures required for lead abatement.

Issued

Sep 5, 2014

Abate by

Sep 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user.     a) Colorado Soda Blasting at 22685 HWY 392 in Greeley, CO: On or about March 22, 2014,  the employer did not have a respiratory protection program which includes:  medical evaluations and employee training on the use and maintenance of respirators.   North brand half face and full face respirators are provided to employees for voluntary use.  These employees must be provided with training and medical evaluations to ensure that the use of a respirator does not pose an additional hazard to the worker.  This condition exposed workers to respiratory hazards in the form of improper maintenance and use of respirators.