OSHA Inspection: VHI BUILDING SPECIALTIES, INC.

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures in any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer:  a) Facility - On or about 02/18/15, the employer required employees to wear 3M half-face air-purifying respirators with organic vapors cartridge while performing grinding.  The employer did not have a written respiratory protection program.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 22, 2015

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: Note:  The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  a)  Facility - On or about 02/18/14, the employer required employees to wear 3M full-face air-purifying respirators while performing grinding.  Employees were not provided a medical evaluation.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:   a)  Facility - On or about 02/10/15, the employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program.  Employees in the facility use hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to Eco-Accent which contain Ground Limestone; and Xtreme Precast which contain Quartz Silica Sand.  A written program should include descriptions of how the criteria for:  1.   Labeling and other forms of warning;   2.   Material Safety Data Sheets such as but not limited to; AND  3.   Employee information and training will be met.  Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazard must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Apr 17, 2015

Abate by

May 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:   a)  Facility - On or about 02/10/15, employees working with hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to Eco-Accent which contain Ground Limestone; and Xtreme Precast which contain Quartz Silica Sand were not provided with information and training on the hazardous materials that they work with.       1.   The requirements of this section:       2.   Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present; AND        3.   The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and               Material Safety Data Sheets.       Employee training shall include at least:        1.   Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area.       2.   The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area.        3.   The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures, appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used.        4.   The details of the employers Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of labeling systems, Material Safety Data Sheets and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED