OSHA Inspection: EXPLORATION DRILLING, INC.

Issued

2014-11-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(b)(2): Employees were exposed to airborne concentration of benzene, listed in Table Z-2, in excess of 25 parts per million (ppm) as an acceptable ceiling concentration and 50 parts per million (ppm) as an acceptable peak concentration:     (a) On or about July 24, 2014, and times prior, an employee was exposed to benzene vapor at a level of 270 ppm, approximately 10.8 times the allowable ceiling concentration of 25 ppm. The personal sample was collected for 10 minutes.     (b) On or about July 24, 2014, and times prior, an employee was exposed to benzene vapor at a level of 270 ppm, approximately 5.4 times the allowable peak concentration of 50 ppm. The personal sample was collected for 10 minutes.

Issued

2014-11-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):      (a) On or about July 24, 2014, and times prior, an employee was overexposed to benzene. [See Item No. 1A, instances (a) and (b).]      Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to, the following:     1. Reduce the vapors that are expelled when the thief hatch is opened.      2. Examine the amount of time the operator spends in the area of the open thief hatch and reduce this time to the greatest extent possible.      Abatement will be multi-step as follows:      Step 1 - Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or wherever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.       Step 2 - Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances referenced in this citation. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:       (a) Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard sources;      (b) Evaluation of control measure options;      (c) Selection of optimum control measures;      (d) Determination of control measure design;      (e) Ordering and delivery of equipment and materials;      (f) Installation of control measures;     (g) Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and      (h) Assurance of effective performance of control measures.          Step 3 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness of achieving compliance.                       All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.

Issued

2014-11-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-04-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0320

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 work site specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:         (a) On or about July 24, 2014, and times prior, the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory protection program.        A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program shall include all of the following requirements:        1.  Written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators shall be established.        2.  Only approved respirators shall be used.  Respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed.        3.  Respirators must be provided free-of-charge where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.        4.  Employers must provide (free-of-charge) a medical evaluation to determine each employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.        5.  Before initial respirator use, fit testing is required for all employees using negative or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators where such respirators are required by OSHA or where the employer requires the use of such a respirator.        6.  The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations.        7.  Surveillance of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress shall be conducted.        8.  Employer must ensure the use of respirators where respirators are needed to protect the health of the employees.        9.  Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary condition.        10.  Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and contamination.        11.  Respirators shall be inspected during cleaning and repaired when necessary.        12.  There shall be regular inspection and evaluation to determine the continued effectiveness of the program.        13.  Compressed breathing air must meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air.        14.  The employer must establish and retain medical evaluations and fit-testing records.