OSHA Inspection: SEFCOR, INC.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee grinding bronze parts was exposed to continuous noise at 116.7 % of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (8-hour time weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of 91.1 dBA during the 457 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014. The exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 23 minutes not sampled. The employee had not received an annual audiogram.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee grinding bronze parts was exposed to continuous noise at 116.7 % of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (8-hour time weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of 91.1 dBA during the 457 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014. The exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 23 minutes not sampled.    (b) Aluminum Grinding area- An employee grinding aluminum parts was exposed to continuous noise at 118.4 % of the  permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (8-hour time weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of 91.2 dBA during the 457 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014. The exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 23 minutes not sampled.   (c) Filing area- An employee filing parts was exposed to continuous noise at 347 % of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (8-hour time weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of 98.9 dBA during the 405 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014. The exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 75 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(c)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee grinding bronze parts was exposed to airborne lead at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 61 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 1.22 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 426 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Jan 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(1)(i): Engineering and work practice controls (including administrative controls) were not implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead in accordance with the schedule in Table 1 of this paragraph:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee grinding bronze parts was exposed to airborne lead at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 61 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 1.22 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 426 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(2)(i): The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m) for each employee required by 29 CFR 1910.1025 to use a respirator:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- The employer had not established or fully implemented a worksite-specific respiratory protection program for an employee required to wear a half mask air purifying respirator while working in an area in excess of OSHA's permissible exposure limit for lead. The employee had not received a respirator fit test.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(2)(i): Clean change rooms were not provided for employees exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), without regard to the use of respirators:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- Change rooms with a separate storage area for street clothes and work clothes, to prevent cross contamination, were not provided to an employee grinding bronze parts that was exposed to airborne lead at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 61 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 1.22 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 426 minute sampling period on September 18, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(3)(i): Employee(s) exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), without regard to the use of respirators, were not required to shower at the end of the work shift:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee exposed to lead in excess of OSHA's permissible exposure limit for lead was not required to shower at the end of his work shift, to prevent further exposure and/or cross contamination.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Feb 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(3)(ii): Shower facilities, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(3), were not provided for an employee exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), without regard to the use of respirators:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee exposed to lead in excess of OSHA's permissible exposure limit for lead was not provided with shower facilities for showering at the end of his work shift, to prevent further exposure and/or cross contamination.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(2)(i): Biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels were not provided to each employee covered under 29 CFR 1910.1025 (j)(1)(i):  (a) Bronze Grinding area- The employer did not provide biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels for an employee grinding bronze parts who was exposed to airborne concentrations of lead  above the action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(3)(v)(A): Employee(s) were not provided with a copy of a written medical opinion for lead from each examining or consulting physician:  (a) Bronze Grinding area- The employer did not provide a physician's written medical opinion to an employee included in the employer's medical surveillance program due to lead exposure in excess of the action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter. The written medical opinion shall contain the following:  1) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from exposure to lead;  2) Any recommended special protective measures to be provided to the employee, or limitations to be placed upon the employee's exposure to lead;  3) Any recommended limitation upon the employee's ability to use a respirator;  4) The results of the blood lead determinations.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(v): Employees exposed to lead at or above the action level, or for whom the possibility of skin or eye irritation existed, were not informed of the required elements in section (l)(1)(v)(A) thru (G):  (a) Bronze Grinding area- An employee exposed in excess of OSHA's action level for lead was not informed of the lead standard and its appendices and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program including information concerning the adverse health effects associated with excessive lead exposure.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(i): Employee(s) working in an area where there is potential exposure to airborne lead at any level were not informed of the content of Appendices A and B of 29 CFR 1910.1025:  (a) Bronze and aluminum grinding, filing, and tinning areas - Employees who work in areas where there is potential for exposure to airborne lead at any level were not informed of the content of Appendices A and B of the lead standard. Air monitoring conducted by OSHA revealed detection of lead to some degree in the bronze and aluminum grinding, filing, and tinning areas.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 07301591

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 worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  (a) Bronze grinding and tinning areas- The employer had not established or fully implemented a written worksite-specific respiratory protection program for employees required to wear half mask air purifying respirators while working in the tin and bronze grinding areas. The employer's written respirator program had another company's name on it. There were several fill in the blank spaces that were never completed. Some employees had not been fit tested.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(6)(i): The employer did not obtain from the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)  a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator:   (a) Tinning area- The employer did not obtain the physician's written medical recommendation regarding the employees' ability to use respirators for employees required to wear half mask tight-fitting face piece respirators in the tinning area.  Note:  The recommendation shall provide only the following information:   1) Any limitations on respirator use related to the medical condition of the employee, or relating to the workplace conditions in which the respirator will be used, including whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respirator;  2) The need, if any, for follow-up medical evaluations; and  3) A statement that the physician has provided the employee with a copy of the physician's written recommendation.

Issued

Nov 13, 2014

Abate by

Dec 10, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:  (a) Tinning area- Employees required to wear half mask tight-fitting face piece respirators in the tinning area had not received annual fit tests.