OSHA Inspection: GOWEN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:      a) Throughout the production area- On or about April 16, 2015, there were four overhead hoist systems (Dayton, JLC Coffing) that had missing hook latches, thus exposing employees to stuck-by and crush-by hazards.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a) In the Production Area, on or about April 22, 2015, a hearing conservation program was not implemented for an employee that worked in the fabrication of trailers who was exposed to noise at 157.96% of the action level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 88.3 dBA during the 439 minute sampling period, resulting in a noise hazard.       b) In the Production Area, on or about April 22, 2015, a hearing conservation program was not implemented for an employee that worked in the fabrication of trailers who was exposed to noise at 145.5% of the action level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 87.7 dBA during the 404 minute sampling period, resulting in a noise hazard.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

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) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not implement a written Respiratory Protection Program for employees that were required to wear tight fitting respirators (half mask respirators) while performing sand blasting on trailers, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and dermatitis.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2): The employer did not implement a change schedule for respirators not equipped with an End of Service Life Indicator that would ensure cartridges were changed before the end of their service life:  a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not implement a cartridge change schedule for employees that were required to wear tight fitting respirators (half mask respirators) while sand blasting trailers, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and dermatitis.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer failed to provide fit testing for an employee  who was required to wear tight-fitting (half mask respirator) while sand blasting trailers, exposing the employee to respiratory irritation and dermatitis.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Nov 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  a)At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer permitted an employee with facial hair (more than one days growth) to wear tight-fitting face piece respirators while sand blasting trailers, exposing the employee to respiratory and skin irritations.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Nov 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(ii): Corrective glasses, goggles or other personal protective equipment were worn in a manner that interfered with the seal of the respirator facepiece:  a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer permitted an employee who was required to wear tight-fitting (half mask respirator) while sand blasting trailers to seal the respirator outside the coverall hood and over a cloth that covered the face partially, exposing the employee to respiratory irritation and dermatitis.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Oil lubricated compressor(s) used to supply breathing air did not have a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm(s) or both:  a) At the sand blasting area, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not monitor carbon monoxide levels in the supplied air for an employee who wore a Bullard supplied air respirator while sand blasting trailers.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(iv): The employer did not ensure that each user could demonstrate knowledge of how to inspect, put on, remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator:  a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employee who was required to wear a tight-fitting face piece respirator while sand blasting trailers was not effectively trained to remain clean shaven and on how facial hair would compromise the seal between the face and the respirator, exposing the employee to respiratory and skin irritations.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:    a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not obtain written manufacturer's approval when an attachment was used with a Clark forklift truck (model: CMP70D) to move trailers throughout the facility, thus exposing employees to a struck-by and crush-by hazards.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):   a) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer allowed employees to operate a powered industrial truck that did not had a functional horn, exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.    b) At the facility, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer allowed employees to operate three powered industrial trucks that did not have functional overhead lights, exposing employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.169(b)(3)(i): Compressed air receiver(s) were not equipped with indicating pressure gauge(s):  a) At the sand blasting area, on or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the air receiver was equipped with an indicating pressure gage and with one or more spring-loaded safety valves  for an employee who wore a Bullard supplied air respirator while sand blasting trailers.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $240 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) At the facility - On or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not develop, implement and/or maintain a written hazard communication program for employees that were handling/working with chemicals such as, but not limited to propane, oxygen, acetylene, and blasting sand, exposing employees to eye/face and/or skin injuries and irritations

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 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) At the facility - On or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not provide effective information and training on hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to propane, oxygen, acetylene and blasting sand, 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, resulting in a chemical hazard.

Issued

Oct 14, 2015

Abate by

Dec 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  a) At the facility - On or about and at times prior to April 16, 2015, the employer did not provide training pursuant to the Hazard Communication 2012 updates effective December 1, 2013 about the details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, the labeling system for received containers, safety data sheets and on how employees can obtain/use the appropriate hazard information for employees working with chemicals such as, but not limited to propane, oxygen, acetylene, and blasting sand, resulting in a chemical hazard.