OSHA Inspection: AURORA METALS DIVISION, L.L.C.

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i): The employer did not provide a respirator that was adequate to protect the health of the employee under routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations:  On or about November 13, 2014, the Copper Melter in the Metals Mixing/Melting Area, was exposed to copper fume at an 8-hour time weighted average of 0.243 milligrams per cubic meter which is above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.10 milligrams per cubic meter.  The employee was not provided with a respirator to protect the employee from the overexposure.  Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Abate by

May 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $49,500 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of copper fume listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter:  On November 13, 2014, the Copper Melter in the Metals Mixing/Melting Area was exposed to copper fume at an 8-hour time weighted average of 0.243 milligrams per cubic meter, approximately 2.4 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL), 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter.  The sample was collected during a 456 minute sampling period.  Exposure calculations include a value of zero for the 24 minutes not sampled.  Abatement documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 17, 2015

Abate by

May 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):   On or about 11/13/14, engineering controls did not achieve compliance with the PEL for copper fume to protect the Copper Melter in the Metals Mixing/Melting Area.   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 whenever 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 exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:   a. Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;  b. Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;  c. Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;  d. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.   Step 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering controls and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.   Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:   - Local exhaust ventilation systems equipped with close capture hoods and improved ventilation efficiency to remove contaminants.   Feasible administrative controls include, but are not limited to:   -Arranging work schedules and the related duration of exposures so that employees are minimally exposed to health hazards.  -Transferring employees who have reached their upper permissible limits of exposure to an environment where no further additional exposure will be experienced.   Date by which Step 1 must be abated:    02/25/15  Date by which Step 2 must be abated:    04/18/15  Date by which Step 3 must be abated:    05/18/15   Abatement certification and documentation is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.(d).