OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE CHEMICAL, INCORPORATED

Issued

Jul 2, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $840 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).    a) At the establishment, where employees worked with chemicals that were contact and inhalation hazards such as, but not limited to Metso Pentabead, Soda Ash, and Caustic Soda a certified job hazard assessment had not been performed.

Issued

Jul 2, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $840 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  a) At the establishment, employees loading the blender and filling plastic containers with a mixture of Metso Pentabead, Soda Ash, and Caustic Soda were over-exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at as much as 3.58 times the ceiling limit. The employees were provided and wore 3M full-face respirators with organic vapor/acid gas filters and an implemented respiratory protection program was not in place that met the requirements of 1910.134(c)(1)(i) through 1910.134(c)(1)(ix).

Issued

Jul 2, 2014

Abate by

Oct 6, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(1): Substances with limits preceded by "C" - Ceiling Values. An employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which is preceded by a "C", shall at no time exceed the exposure limit given for that substance. If instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, then the ceiling shall be assessed as a 15-minute time weighted average exposure which shall not be exceeded at any time during the working day.  a) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 2.87 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.4 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.    b) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 7.16 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 3.58 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   c) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 3.37 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.7 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   d) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 3.62 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.8 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   e) On May 28, 2014, the plant manager, opening bags of product to pour into the blender, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 2.77 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.4 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.

Issued

Jul 2, 2014

Abate by

Oct 6, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2260

General-duty citation text

CFR 1910.1000(e): To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and/or technical measures used for this purpose must be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1910.134. [71 FR 16673, April 3, 2006]  a) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 2.87 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.4 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   b) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 7.16 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 3.58 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   c) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 3.37 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.7 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.   d) On May 28, 2014, a laborer, filling plastic containers with product, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 3.62 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.8 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.    e) On May 28, 2014, the plant manager, opening bags of product to pour into the blender, was exposed to Sodium Hydroxide at a ceiling level of 2.77 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This exposure was approximately 1.4 times the calculated ceiling level of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Hole formation in the nasal septum, mouth, throat, and lung damage are health effects related to exposure to Sodium Hydroxide.

Issued

Jul 2, 2014

Abate by

Aug 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $840 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. [63 FR 33450, June 18, 1998]  a) At the establishment employees blended powdered corrosives such as, but not limited to Metso Pentabead 20, Soda Ash, and Caustic Soda beads and an emergency shower and eye wash was not immediately available for the quick drenching of the eyes and body.