OSHA Inspection: ARTISAN STAIRS & MILLWORK LLC

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): Standard railing(s) did not consist of top rail, intermediate rail and/or posts and/or did not have a vertical height of 42 inches (106.7 cm) nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform runway, or ramp level:  EMERGENCY EXIT:  On or about April 24, 2015, the railing on the outdoor landing at the top of the stairs from the second floor emergency exit did not meet the requirements of a standard railing.  One section of the top rail was 36 inches above the platform and another section was 28 inches.  The landing was approximately nine and a half (9.5) feet above the ground.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  2ND FLOOR:  On or about April 20, 2015, 24-inch exhaust fans were placed in doorways to increase ventilation while manufactured products were being spray painted.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(9)(iii): Combustible waste material and residues in a building or unit operating area were not kept to a minimum, stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily:    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about April 24, 2015, the employer did not provide safety cans for temporary storage of rags and wipes contaminated with flammable and/or combustible materials including, but not limited to, stains and varnishes.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

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:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about April 24, 2015, the employer had not ensured that employees received a medical evaluation prior to required use of respirators.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about April 24, 2015, employees had been issued respirators and directed to use them but had not been fit-tested.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  2ND FLOOR PAINTING AREA:  On or about April 24, 2015, a bearded employee had been issued and directed to use a tight-fitting half face respirator.  The employee had never been advised that his beard would prevent the respirator from fully protecting him.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about April 24, 2015, the employer had not provided training on respirator use to employees before requiring them to use respirators.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 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.:  WOODWORKING SHOP:  On or about April 24, 2015, employees used compressed air for cleaning surfaces.  The dead-ended pressure of the air coming from the air nozzle was greater than 100 p.s.i.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.    2ND FLOOR PAINT STORAGE AREA:    On or about April 30, 2015, an unlabeled 5-gallon pail was observed under the workbench at the top of the stairs.  An employee stated that he believed the contents to be mineral spirits.

Issued

Oct 19, 2015

Abate by

Dec 7, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,200 · Current $1,920 Reduced

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:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about April 24, 2015, the employer had not provided training to employees regarding the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed as part of their routine duties.  Such chemicals include, but are not limited to: wood stains containing linseed oil, petroleum naphtha, and kerosene; primer containing butoxypropanol and titanium dioxide; and clear coat protective finish containing 1-(2-butoxymethylethoxy)-propanol and ethylene glycol.  Artisan Stairs and Millwork Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 997091, citation number 1, item number 11b and was affirmed as a final order on December 5, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 63 Slater Road, Unit 5, Manchester, CT.