OSHA Inspection: NISSHINBO AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING, INC.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 20, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,850 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the grind line was exposed to noise at a dose of 134.9%, which is 2.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.  An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the employee, on or about 5/13/2014.      b)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the plate treatment line was exposed to noise at a dose of 83%, which is 1.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.  An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the employee, on or about 5/13/2014.      c)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the plate treatment line 2 was exposed to noise at a dose of 134.9%, which is 2.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.  An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the employee, on or about 5/13/2014.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):    a)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the grind line was exposed to noise at a dose of 134.9%, which is 2.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.      b)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the plate treatment line was exposed to noise at a dose of 83%, which is 1.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.    c)Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- An employee working on the plate treatment line 2 was exposed to noise at a dose of 134.9%, which is 2.7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50%.      Employees were observed not properly inserting their ear plugs into the ear canal, on or about 5/13/2014.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,300 · Current $0 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) Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc., Covington, GA-Employees were wearing a tight fitting respirators with a beard. The employer's written respirator program did not include all elements required in this section. The employer did not designate a program administrator, on or about 4/23/14.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested used the respirator in the workplace:    (a) Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc., Covington, GA-Employees were issued half mask, tight fitting respirators, and were not provided a medical evaluation, on or about 4/23/14.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    (a) Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc., Covington, GA-Employees were wearing tight fitting respirators with a beard. The employer did not ensure that all employees wearing tight fitting respirators were properly trained on the requirement of this section, on or about 4/23/14.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Dec 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $0 Reduced

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:    Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.-Covington, GA- Employees were expected to respond to releases from chemicals to include, but not limited to, 93% sulfuric acid, 50% caustic soda, 35% hydrogen peroxide, resin, 25% sodium hydroxide, and aluminum sulfate in a defensive manner The employer failed to certify that employees had been properly trained and/or retrained on or about 4/23/14.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Dec 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(p)(8)(ii): The employer did not develop an emergency response plan for emergencies that addressed, to the extent not addressed in any specific program required in 29 CFR 1910.120(p), the requirements in 29 CFR 1910.120(p)(8)(ii)(A) through (p)(8)(ii)(K):  Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.- The employer's emergency response plan did not address the following elements: (a) Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties; (b)Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication; (c)Emergency recognition and prevention; (d)Safe distances and places of refuge; (e)Site security and control; (f)Evacuation routes and procedures; (g)Decontamination procedures; (h)Emergency medical treatment and first aid; (i)Emergency alerting and response procedures; (j)Critique of response and follow-up; and (k) PPE and emergency equipment.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Jan 20, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(9)(i): Members of an organized and designated HAZMAT team and hazardous materials specialist did not receive a baseline physical examination and/or was not provided with medical surveillance as required in 29 CFR 1910.120(f):  Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing, Inc.-Covington, GA- Employees were expected to respond to releases from chemicals to include, but is not limited to, 93% sulfuric acid, 50% caustic soda, 35% hydrogen peroxide, resin, 25% sodium hydroxide, and aluminum sulfate in a defensive manner and had not had received a baseline physical examination, on or about 4/23/14.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $3,850

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:    Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing-Covington, GA-Production Area-Employees were required to access SDS on the computer, however, employee interviews revealed that they did not know how to access  the SDS's on the computer. Employees were not aware of the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in their work area.  Chemicals include, but are not limited to, 35% hydrogen peroxide, 50% caustic soda, 93% sulfuric acid, 25% sodium hydroxide, and silica.

Issued

Oct 8, 2014

Abate by

Nov 26, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):    Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing-Covington, GA-Production Area-Employees were required to access SDS on the computer, however, employee interviews revealed that they did not know how to access SDS on the computer. Also, on or about 4/23/2014, management and OSHA tested the computer for SDS, and was not able to access the SDS in the computer room because of computer malfunctions.  Chemicals include, but are not limited to, 35% hydrogen peroxide, 50% caustic soda, 93% sulfuric acid, 25% sodium hydroxide, and silica.