OSHA Inspection: SYNTREX, LLC

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0020

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing for likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to burns to the eyes from sodium hydrosulfite:  a) Sodium Hydrosulfite Dye Section: In the direct area where employees were mixing sodium hydrosulfite, a hazardous material, employees were exposed to potential hazards such as, but not limited to, eye irritations, redness, or irreversible corneal damage when pouring hazardous material into the mixing tank. The employer did not ensure the emergency eye wash/shower station was maintained in accordance to ANSI Z358.1, 2009. The emergency eyewash station presented the following conditions:                  a. Emergency eyewash/shower station was not activated weekly to ensure operability and availability of water   b. Emergency eyewash/shower station was not inspected annually   c. Employees had not received training on the emergency eyewash/shower station

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:  a) Acetic Acid Dye Section: The employees were provided latex gloves which were not appropriate chemical resistant gloves for hand protection when handling hazardous material such as, but not limited to, acetic acid. The employees were exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, skin irritations which could cause a rash, burns, and/or permanent skin damage.   b) Acetic Acid Dye Section: The employees were provided safety glasses which were not appropriate splash resistant eye protection, such as safety goggles, when handling hazardous material such as, but not limited to, acetic acid.  The employees are exposed to hazards when handling corrosive material without chemical goggles. The exposure could cause damage such as, but not limited to, permanent corneal damage.   c) Acetic Acid Dye Section: The employees did not have appropriate skin protection, such as an apron, when handling corrosive material such as, but not limited to, acetic acid. The employer has not provided any type of personal protection equipment to protect as a covering for clothing (i.e. apron). This exposes employees to such hazards as, but not limited to, skin rash, burns, and/or permanent skin damage.

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a) Acetic Acid Dye Section: The employees did not have an eyewash/shower station in the immediate area when handling corrosive material such as but not limited to acetic acid. The employees were exposed to potential hazards such as, but not limited to, permanent tissue damage when they dispensed the corrosive material into the bucket, carried it up the stairs and poured it into the mixing tank.

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

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.) Acetic Acid Dye Section: Employees had not received effective training when working with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to acetic acid in or around the dye section. The employer had not provided information or training in a language which could be understood by employees

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Facility: The employer had not certified that a hazard assessment had been conducted. Appropriate eye protection, hand protection, and skin protection was not readily available when employees were exposed to hazardous material such as, but not limited to, sodium hydrosulfite and acetic acid.

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:   a) Sodium Hydrosulfite Dye Section: The employer provided N95 respirators for voluntary use by the employees when working with hazardous material such as, but not limited to, sodium hydrosulfite. The employer had not provided the employees with the information contained in Appendix D to the employees.

Issued

Sep 22, 2014

Abate by

Oct 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:   a) Sodium Hydrosulfite Dye Section: The employees voluntarily wore the MSA 817663 NIOSH  half face respirator when using hazardous material such as, but not limited to, sodium hydrosulfite. The employer had not provided a medical evaluation to the employee to ensure the employees were medically fit to wear the respirator prior to its use.