OSHA Inspection: AFAM CONCEPT, INC.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employee(s) required to perform chemical receiving operations were exposed to contact with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, corrosives such as caustic liquid soda when obtaining samples from containers.  Protective clothing, such as a chemical-resistant apron, was not provided or required to protect against injury.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to work with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, corrosives such as caustic liquid soda during batch making and container sampling operations, were exposed to skin and eye hazards necessitating the use of personal protective equipment.  The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 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:  On or about April 29, 2014, the employer provided and required the use of air-purifying respirators (half-mask, full-face) during chemical shipment sampling and batch making operations.  The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, the employer provided and required the use of air-purifying respirators (half-mask, full-face) when taking lab samples from chemical containers and during batch making operations.  The employer did not provided a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, the employer provided and required the use of air-purifying respirators (half-mask, full-face) when taking lab samples from chemical containers and during batch making operations.  The employer did not ensure that each employee was fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, and at least annually thereafter.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 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:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making and/or chemical shipment receiving operations were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, including, but not limited to, caustic soda liquid.  Suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body, such as an emergency eyewash and shower, were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a). The chemical storage / batch weighing room did not have an emergency shower. b). The "flammable"liquid storage room did not have an emergency eyewash and shower.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations entered permit spaces such as kettles (i.e. mixers) to perform cleaning.  The employer did not develop and implement a written permit space program.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space operations, including isolating the permit space:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations entered permit-required confined spaces such as kettles (i.e mixers) for cleaning.  The employer did not implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for isolating the kettles against the release of hazardous energy into the space including mechanical and steam.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(9): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations entered permit-required confined spaces such as kettles (i.e mixers) for cleaning.  The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(10): Develop and implement a system for the preparation, issuance, use, and cancellation of entry permits as required by this section:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations entered permit-required confined spaces such as kettles (i.e mixers) for cleaning.  The employer did not develop and implement a system for the preparation, issuance, use, and cancellation of entry permits.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3): To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant. Retrieval systems shall meet the following requirements:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations entered permit-required confined spaces such as kettles (i.e. mixers) for cleaning.  Retrieval systems or methods were not used to facilitate non-entry rescue whenever an entrant entered the space.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(1)(i): Each employer who has a workplace covered by this standard shall monitor employees to determine their exposure to formaldehyde:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations were potentially exposed to contact with formaldehyde.  The employer did not monitor employees to determine their exposure to formaldehyde.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $1,620 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations and container sampling were exposed to the hazard of contact with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, corrosives such as caustic soda liquid.  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): Workplace labeling. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(7) and (f)(8) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either:  (i) The information specified under paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (v) of this section for labels on shipped containers: or,  (ii) Product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals, and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations and container sampling were exposed to the hazard of contact with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, corrosives.  Each hazardous chemical container in storage did not include general information regarding the hazards of the chemical contained therein, including, but not limited to: Propylene Glycol, Calfoam ES 603 and Polyquaternium.

Issued

Aug 1, 2014

Abate by

Sep 18, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.  Employee training shall include the details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.  On or about April 29, 2014, in the facility, employees required to perform batch making operations and obtain lab samples from containers were exposed to the hazard of contact with hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, corrosives.  The employer did not provide each employee with the required training including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the safety data sheet, including the order of information.