OSHA Inspection: POLYCHEM SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $1,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable.    a.  On or about October 2, 2014, employees were required to work in the facility where standing water was present throughout work areas exposing employees to slip, trip and fall hazards.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to work with corrosive and hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA).  The employer failed to provide and require the use of appropriate body protection including personal protective equipment which was protective against chemical contact.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $1,850 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(i): All places of employment shall be kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows.    a.  On or about October 2, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to perform assigned tasks.   Employees were exposed to unsanitary conditions when the toilets provided did not flush or provide water as necessary to discard waste.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(ii): Lavatories were not provided with hot and cold, or tepid running water.  a.  On or about October 2, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to perform assigned tasks including, but not limited to handling hazardous chemicals.  The employer failed to provide the washroom with hot and cold or tepid running water to be used to cleanse hands, face and respiratory protection as necessary.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,080 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to operate powered industrial vehicles.  The employees were not provided with training on the safe operation of the powered industrial vehicles thereby exposing employees to struck by and crushing hazards.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.    a.  On or about September 4, 2014 in the facility, employees were required to wear a full face tight fitting respirator during transferring operations involving amines including,  but not limited to N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA), dimethylisopropylamine (DMIPA) and triethylamine (TEA).  The employees were not provided with medical evaluations to determine their ability to safely wear a respirator.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to wear full face tight fitting respirators during transferring operations involving amines, including but not limited to N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA), dimethylisopropylamine (DMIPA) and triethylamine (TEA).  The employees were not provided with initial and annually thereafter fit testing to ensure proper fit of the required respiratory protection.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): The employer shall provide effective training prior to requiring the employee to use a respirator in the workplace.    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to wear full face tight fitting respirators during transferring operations involving amines, including but not limited to N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA), dimethylisopropylamine (DMIPA) and triethylamine (TEA).  The employer failed to ensure that employees were provided adequate training which included, but was not limited to proper use, limitations, emergency use, inspections, cleaning and maintenance.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.    a.  On or about October 2, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to work with corrosive chemicals including, but not limited to sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA).  Employees were not provided with an eyewash and safety shower in the work area(s) for immediate emergency use.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Apr 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(b)(12): The atmosphere or location shall have been classified as to whether it is hazardous or nonhazardous prior to the consideration of industrial trucks being used therein and the type of industrial truck required shall be as provided in paragraph (d) of this section for such location.      a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to operate powered industrial vehicles with LP designations in hazardous work area(s) where highly flammable amines were processed and transferred.  The employer failed to provide a suitable industrial truck designated for use in a hazardous work environment.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $15,400 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to work with hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA).  The employer failed to train employees on the hazards associated with handling hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Feb 26, 2015

Abate by

Mar 10, 2015

Penalty

Initial $6,160 · Current $4,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE:    a.  On or about September 4, 2014, in the facility, employees were required to work with corrosive and hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and N,N-Dimethylethylamine (DMEA).  The employer failed to provide training to employees which included the appropriate PPE required to be worn when exposed to the hazards.        The Polychem Services, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.132(f)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 313941080, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on June 3, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 374 E. Joe Orr Road, Chicago Heights, IL  60411.