OSHA Inspection: THE COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE, INC.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Aug 19, 2015

Penalty

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

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) The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (such as provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  Employee(s) operating the nail gun and making pallets were exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average sound level of approximately 90.5 dBA.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Aug 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

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) No written respiratory protection program had been established for respirator use.  Respirators in use included an elastomeric 3M half-face respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges and Makerite N95 disposable dust masks.  Worker(s) performing woodworking operations, such as table saw cutting and cabinet making, were exposed to wood dust concentrations in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3.    (b) Worksite specific procedures, in accordance with section (d) of this standard, had not been established for selection of appropriate respiratory protection.      (c) Medical evaluation procedures, in accordance with section (e) of this standard, had not been implemented to assure that worker(s) were physically able to use the half-face elastomeric cartridge type respirator.    (d) Fit test procedures, in accordance with section (f) of this standard, had not been implemented to assure respirators fit properly.    (e) No training, in accordance with section (k) of this standard, had been provided regarding proper use of respirators.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  (a) In the basement level workshop, on or around May 13, 2015, the General Laborer operating the table saw and making wood cabinets resulting in exposure to wood dust in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit, was equipped with an organic vapor cartridge respirator, which was not the appropriate respirator.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances W103

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 basement level workshop, a General Laborer used a half-face elastomeric respirator equipped with organic vapor cartridges, when operating a table saw and performing cabinet making operations, and had not been provided a medical evaluation.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances W103

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 basement level workshop, worker(s) required to use respirators while operating a table saw and performing cabinet making operations, and were not provided a respirator fit test.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective respirator training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):  (a) In the basement level workshop, worker(s) were required to use respirators while operating a table saw and performing cabinet making operations, and were not provided effective training.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(4): Portable fire extinguishers were not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition:  (a) A portable fire extinguisher located on a column adjacent to a table saw was not maintained in a fully charged and operable condition.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer did not provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.  a)    The employer had designated five workers to use portable fire extinguishers, however training was not provided to assure that these workers were familiarized with the use of the equipment and the hazards of incipient stage fire fighting.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Jul 29, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:     (a) At the basement level worksite, a compressed air gun used to clean wood dust from various surfaces in the vicinity of the Delta table saw was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i..

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Wood Dust, listed as Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) in Table Z-1, in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 15 mg/m3:    (a)    The general laborer operating the table saw and making cabinets on or around May 13, 2015, in the basement level workshop, was exposed to Wood Dust at an 8-hour time weighted average of 19.05 mg/m3, approximately 1.27 times the limit of 15 mg/m3.   Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 46 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances W103

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)    The employer did not utilize feasible engineering or administrative controls to prevent employee over exposure to wood dust.  The employee performing table saw cutting and cabinet making operations on or around May 13, 2015, in the basement level workplace was exposed to wood dust at an 8-hour time weighted average of 19.05 mg/m3, approximately 1.27 times the limit of 15 mg/m3.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 46 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Jul 2, 2015

Abate by

Sep 3, 2015

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 92109211

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)    Milwaukee Working did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(d)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:    1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals;    2) Material safety data sheet availability;    3) Training of employees;    4) a complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace;    5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and    6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system; and any precautionary measures to protect employees.    Workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including wood dust, nail gun lubricant, and propane.