OSHA Inspection: BREMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures in any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer:    a)  On or about 05/28/2014, the employer did not establish or implement a written respiratory protection program when the employer required a Molder employee to wear an Advantage 200LS tight-fitting half-face respirator with organic filters while conducting molding operations with Bioset chemicals in the New Molding area.    All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134(c) through (l) must be covered in a written respirator protection program. Key elements include, but are not limited to, the following:    1)  Respirator selection  2)  Medical evaluations  3)  Fit testing  4)  Procedures for use, care and maintenance  5)  Employee information and training  6)  Program evaluation

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):  The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):  a)  On or about 05/28/2014, when the employer required a Molder employee to wear an Advantage 200LS tight-fitting half-face respirator, the employer did not provide the employee with effective training required by this section and did not ensure the Molder employee could demonstrate knowledge such as:  1)  Why the respirator was necessary and how improper fit, usage or maintenance could compromise the protective effect of the respirator. 2)  What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator were. 3)  How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator. 4)  What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator. 5)  How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators. 6)  The general requirement of this section.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Other substances -- 8-hour Time Weighted Averages. An employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which is not preceded by a "C", shall not exceed the 8-hour Time Weighted Average given for that substance any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week:    On or about 05/06/2014, the Company failed to perform 8 hour TWA sampling of chemicals listed in Table Z-1.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 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]:    On or about 05/06/2014, the Company failed to identify, test, and implement administrative or engineering controls to address hazardous substances identified in Table Z-1.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $37,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1073

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    a)  On or about 05/06/2014, Airset Cell employees were not provided with effective information and training when the new hazardous chemical BioSet containing methylene bisphenyl isocynates (MDI) was introduced into the Airset Cell work area.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(n)(1): The employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there is exposure to formaldehyde participated in a training program:  a)  On or about 05/09/2014, the employer did not ensure an Airset Molder employee on second shift exposed to formaldehyde at a level of 0.19 ppm participated in a formaldehyde training program;  b)  On or about 05/09/2014, the employer did not ensure an Airset Knockout employee on second shift exposed to formaldehyde at a level of 0.22 ppm participated in a formaldehyde training program;  The employees did not receive training on: 1)  The contents of the SDS for the Alphaset chemicals; 2)  Description of the potential health hazards and signs/symptoms associated with exposure to formaldehyde; 3)  Instruction to immediately report to the employer the development of any adverse signs/symptoms; 4)  Description of operations in the work area where formaldehyde is present; 5)  Instructions for the handling of spills, emergencies and clean-up procedures.  BREMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD 29 CFR 1910.1048(n)(1) OR ITS EQUIVALENT WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 312554793, CITATION 1, ITEM 4b ISSUED ON 06/09/2010 WITH REGARD TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT W2002 COUNTY ROAD Q, ELKHART LAKE, WI 53020. FINAL ORDER 06/30/2010.

Issued

Nov 5, 2014

Abate by

Dec 29, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1073

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)  On or about 05/06/2014, the employer did not verify through a written certification that a hazard assessment for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) had been completed when employees were using Alphaset and Bioset chemicals in the Airset Cell.