OSHA Inspection: WHITLOCK PACKAGING CORPORATION

Issued

May 29, 2015

Abate by

Jul 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $60,500 · Current $45,375 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii): Where mobile test vans were used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level:    a) Facility    The employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram for permanent and temporary employees' first exposure at or above the action level of 85 dBA as an 8 hour time-weighted average.    A permanent employee whose first exposure to noise above the action level on 02/25/13 and working at Line 3 Filler B area was exposed to continuous noise up to 163.0% of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA which is 1.6 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 93.5 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 443 minutes on 03/12/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.  On 03/12/15, there was no change in operation identified from the date Line 3 Filler B was initially observed on 12/01/14.    A permanent employee whose first exposure to noise above the action level on 11/19/12 and working at Line 4 Filler area was exposed to continuous noise up to 116.1% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level on 85 dBA which is 2.3 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 91.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes on 03/12/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.  On 03/12/15, there was no change in operation identified from the date Line 4 Filler Area was initially observed on 12/01/14.     A temporary employee whose first exposure to noise above the action level on 09/13/13 and working at Line 5 was exposed to continuous noise up to 108.8% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level on 85 dBA which is 2.2 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.6 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes on 02/27/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    A temporary employee whose first exposure to noise above the action level on 01/02/13 and working at Line 2 Filler area was exposed to continuous noise up to 106.5% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level on 85 dBA which is 2.1 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.5 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 422 minutes on 02/27/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.     A temporary employee whose first exposure to noise above the action level on 08/20/13 and working at Rework area and Line 5 Labeling outcoming conveyor area was exposed to continuous noise up to 75.1% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level on 85 dBA which is 1.5 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 87.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 401 minutes on 03/12/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    Violation occurred on or about 12/01/14, 02/27/15 and 03/12/15.

Issued

May 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Facility   The employer did not obtain annual audiograms for all employees at or above the action level of 85 dbA as an 8 hour time-weighted average.   An employee (not provided 2013 and 2014 audiometric exam) working on the line as a filler on Line 6 was exposed to continuous noise up to 106.9% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dbA which is 2.1 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.5 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes on 02/27/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.  On 02/27/15, there was no change in operation identified from the date Line 6 was initially observed on 12/01/14.   An employee (not provided 2013 and 2014 audiometric exam) working on the line as a casepacker on Line 3 was exposed to continuous noise up to 112.5% of the action level (AL) eight hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dbA which is 2.3 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.8 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 427 minutes on 02/27/15, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.  On 02/27/15, there was no change in operation identified from the date Line 3 was initially observed on 12/01/14.   Violation occurred on or about 12/01/14.

Issued

May 29, 2015

Abate by

Jun 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $825 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(6): The annual summary was not posted no later than February 1 of the year following the year covered by the records, and kept in place until April 30:    a) Facility    The annual summary for calendar year 2014 was not posted by February 1, 2015.    Violation observed on or about 03/09/15.