OSHA Inspection: CONECSUS, LLC

Issued

Mar 3, 2015

Abate by

Aug 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,700 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1018(g)(1)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not instituted to reduce inorganic arsenic exposure to or below permissible exposure limit:    This violation occurred on or about December 18, 2014, when the employer had not implemented engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to arsenic to or below the permissible exposure limit:      a) A rotary furnace operator was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 38 µg/m3, approximately 3.8 times the permissible exposure limit of 10 µg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 462 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 18 minutes.    b) A wastewater treatment equipment operator was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 26 µg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit of 10 µg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 473 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 7 minutes.    c) A kettle operator was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 100 µg/m3, approximately 10 times the permissible exposure limit of 10 µg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 471 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 9 minutes.    d) A truck loader was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 29 µg/m3, approximately 2.9 times the permissible exposure limit of 10 µg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 448 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 32 minutes.    Conecsus, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1018(g)(1)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 575358, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as final order on February 5, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 106 Tejas Drive, Terrell, Texas 75160.

Issued

Mar 3, 2015

Abate by

Aug 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(1)(i): For any employees exposed to lead above the permissible exposure limit for more than 30 days per year the employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls (including administrative controls) to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead:     This violation occurred on or about December 18, 2014, when the employer had not implemented engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to lead to or below the permissible exposure limit:    a) A maintenance worker was exposed to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 210 µg/m3, approximately 4.2 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 464 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 16 minutes.    b) A vacuum distillation unit operator was exposed to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 490 µg/m3, approximately 9.8 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.      c) A rotary furnace operator was exposed to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 280 µg/m3, approximately 5.6 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 462 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 18 minutes.    d) A wastewater treatment equipment operator was exposed  to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 56 µg/m3, approximately 1.1 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 473 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 7 minutes.    e) A kettle operator was exposed to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 840 µg/m3, approximately 16.8 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 471 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 9 minutes.    f) A truck loader was exposed to lead at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 72 µg/m3, approximately 1.4 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3.   Sampling was performed for 448 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 32 minutes.    Conecsus, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(1)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 575358, citation number 1, item number 3b and was affirmed as final order on February 5, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 106 Tejas Drive, Terrell, Texas 75160.