OSHA Inspection: CHAMBERS DRUM COMPANY INC.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    Plant 2: Employees were exposed to noise levels above the Action Limit of 85 dBA without the implementation of an effective hearing conservation program which would have included baseline audiograms, noise monitoring, and noise training according to the noise standard.    a) Employees working in the vicinity of the Blaster were exposed to continuous noise at 91.48% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.3 dBA during the 384 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.    b) Employees working in the vicinity of the Forming Area were exposed to continuous noise at 164.3% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.5 dBA during the 455 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.    c) Employees working in the vicinity of the Paint Booth were exposed to continuous noise at 74.68% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.9 dBA during the 415 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  Plant 2: The employer failed to develop and implement noise monitoring while providing hearing protection devices to employees during recycling activities.   a) Employees working in the vicinity of the Blaster were exposed to continuous noise at 91.48% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.3 dBA during the 384 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  b) Employees working in the vicinity of the Forming Area were exposed to continuous noise at 164.3% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.5 dBA during the 455 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  c) Employees working in the vicinity of the Paint Booth were exposed to continuous noise at 74.68% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.9 dBA during the 415 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  Plant 2: The employer failed to provide audiometric testing to employees exposed to noise above the Action Limit.  Employees were exposed to elevated noise levels while the thermal oxidizers and blasters were operating and while the steel drums were being handled.  a) Employees working in the vicinity of the Blaster were exposed to continuous noise at 91.48% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.3 dBA during the 384 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  b) Employees working in the vicinity of the Forming Area were exposed to continuous noise at 164.3% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.5 dBA during the 455 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  c) Employees working in the vicinity of the Paint Booth were exposed to continuous noise at 74.68% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.9 dBA during the 415 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  Plant 2: The employer failed to provide training to employees exposed to noise above the Action Limit.  Employees were exposed to noise levels above the Action Limit of 85 dBA while the thermal oxidizers and blasters were operating and while the steel drums were being handled in Plant 2.   a) Employees working in the vicinity of the Blaster were exposed to continuous noise at 91.48% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.3 dBA during the 384 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  b) Employees working in the vicinity of the Forming Area were exposed to continuous noise at 164.3% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.5 dBA during the 455 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.  c) Employees working in the vicinity of the Paint Booth were exposed to continuous noise at 74.68% of the permissible daily exposure of 85 dBA (time-weighted average) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.9 dBA during the 415 minute sampling period on September 9, 2014.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2).  a) Plant 1 and Plant 2; The employer failed to verify that an assessment of the workplace to determine the presence of hazards that would warrant the use of personal protective equipment had been conducted.  Employees were exposed to noise hazards while the thermal oxidizers and blasters were operating and while the steel drums were being handled.  Employees were exposed to flying particles in the blaster area, corrosive residues while handling drums and caustic soda beads (sodium hydroxide).  Employees were exposed to skin irritants while handling sodium nitrite.  Employees were also exposed to respiratory hazards while working with paints, thinners, and other volatiles.

Issued

Nov 10, 2014

Abate by

Dec 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a) Plant 2: The employer had not provided employees required to wear respirators in the Paint Areas with medical evaluations prior to fit testing.  A painter was observed wearing a 3M elastomeric respirator with a combination Organic Vapor/Acid Gas and P100 cartridge (3M 60923) without receiving a medical evaluation.