OSHA Inspection: BASIC CARBIDE CORPORATION

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:    a)  In the Facility, on or about May 8 ,2015 - The employer did not institute a continuing effective hearing conservation program when employee noise exposures exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA.  An employee designated as a Ball Mill Room Operator was exposed to noise at a level of 67.0% of the allowable limit during a 442 minute sampling period on May 8, 2015.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.1 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 1.34 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.    b)  In the Facility, on or about June 12 ,2015 -  An employee designated as a Ball Mill Room Operator was exposed to noise at a level of 66.5% of the allowable limit during a 457 minute sampling period on June 12, 2015.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.05 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure and is 1.33 times in excess of the 85 dBA action level (50%) at which the hearing conservation program is required.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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:   a)  In the Facility, on or about May 8 ,2015 - The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for employees whose noise exposures exceeded an 8-hour time weighted average exposure of 85 dBA.  See descriptions of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1, Instances a and b.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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):    a)  In the Facility, on or about May 8 ,2015 - The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise in excess of an 8-hour time weighted average exposure of 85 dBA, in accordance with the noise standard.   See descriptions of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1, Instances a and b.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1): The employer did not make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of 29 CFR 1910.95 and did not post a copy in the workplace:    a)  In the Facility, on or about May 8 ,2015 - The employer did not post a copy of 29 CFR 1920.95, the Occupational Noise Standard in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of cobalt listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.1 mg/m3 of air:    a)  In the Powder Room, Buena Vista Plant, on or about May 8, 2015 - An employee designated as a Press Operator was exposed to cobalt at a time weighted average exposure of 0.22 mg/m3.  This level is 2.2 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on May 8, 2015 for 437 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.    b)  In the Ball Mill Room, Buena Vista Plant, on or about May 8, 2015 - An employee designated as a Ball Mill Room Operator was exposed to cobalt at a time weighted average exposure of 0.49 mg/m3.  This level is 4.9 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on May 8, 2015 for 444 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.    c)  In the Powder Room, Buena Vista Plant, on or about June 12, 2015 - An employee designated as a Press Operator was exposed to cobalt at a time weighted average exposure of 0.19 mg/m3.  This level is 1.9 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on June 12, 2015 for 464 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.    d)  In the Ball Mill Room, Buena Vista Plant, on or about June 12, 2015 - An employee designated as a Ball Mill Room Operator was exposed to cobalt at a time weighted average exposure of 0.37 mg/m3.  This level is 3.7 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on June 12, 2015 for 466 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):   a)  In the Powder Room and the Ball Mill Room, Buena Vista Plant, on or about May 8 and June 12, 2015 - The employer did not implement feasible administrative or engineering controls when employees were exposed to cobalt above the permissible exposure limit.  (See description of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1a, Instances a-d).  Feasible engineering and administrative controls would include but not be limited to:  1.  The use of long handled tools to remove residual material from mixers;  2.  Utilizing a shroud around the mixers when dumping;  3.  Increase ventilation around "thumping" operations;  4.  Maintain the existing mechanical ventilation systems at work stations and evaluate increased ventilation;  and  5.  Instruct employees on work practices to minimize dust exposures.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a)  In the Facility, on or about March 26, 2015 - The employer did not develop a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures when the employer required the use of respirators in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

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)  In the Facility, on or about March 26, 2015 - The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is required to use the respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   a)  In the Facility, on or about March 26, 2015 - The employer did not provide a fit test for employees who are required to use a respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:    a)  In the Facility, on or about March 26, 2015 - The employer did not provide respirator training to employees who are required to use a respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 29, 2015

Abate by

Oct 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0720

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:   a)  In the Facility, on or about March 26, 2015 - The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, Appendix D of the Respirator Standard, to employees who wear respirators voluntarily in the workplace.