OSHA Inspection: REPUBLIC STEEL

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.124(g)(2): When employees work with liquids that may burn, irritate, or otherwise harm their skin, the employer did not provide an emergency shower and eye-wash station close to the dipping or coating operation.       a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure the eyewash station located near the etch tanks in the tech center building was provided with an adequate flow of water to flush an employee's eyes.  Employees operating the etch tanks are exposed to a hydrochloric acid solution with a 0 pH.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, were not provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.     a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure employees were wearing protective equipment that covered their arms when using an overhead hoist to place parts baskets into dip tanks containing hydrochloric acid.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).   a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer's protective equipment assessment did not identify the need for arm coverings to protect the employee's arms from splashes of hot hydrochloric acid when using an overhead hoist to place parts baskets into the etch tanks.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $5,000

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; the evaluation did not include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form. Where the employer could not identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH.    a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about February 27, 2015, the employer did not evaluate employee exposures to hydrochloric acid mist while operating the etch tanks located in the tech center.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

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. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure employees were provided with medical evaluations prior to requiring the use of full face and half face respirators while working around the etch tanks in the tech center.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

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. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure employees were fit tested prior to requiring the use of full face and half face respirators while working at the etch tanks in the tech center.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): The employer did not provide each respirator user with a respirator that was clean, sanitary, and in good working order. The employer did not ensure that respirators were cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of this section, or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness.     a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure employees were provided with respirators that were clean and in good working order. An employee was using a 3M half face respirator for protection against hydrochloric acid mist which was dirty and the inhalation valves were deformed.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): All respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.    a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure respirators were properly stored to protect them from being damaged and deformed. An employee was storing a 3M half face respirator inside of a file cabinet drawer with his hard hat in the office of the tech center.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of at least the following when required to wear respirators.    a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure employees were provided with training on the following topics when they were required to use full face and half face respirators while working at the etch tanks in the tech center:    a. Why the respirator was necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance could compromise the protective effect of the respirator;    b. What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator were;    c. How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;    d. What the procedures were for maintenance and storage of the respirator;    e. How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators;     f. The general requirements of this section.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $7,500 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 in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards due to the lifting baskets used to place metal parts into the acid tanks were not labeled as to their capacity.    a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure the parts baskets used by employees to place large metal parts into the hydrochloric acid etch tanks were labeled as to their capacity.    Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with the requirements of ASME B30.20-2013 "Below the hook lifting devices, Sections 20-1.2.1: Marking, Construction and Installation".      Republic Steel was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 313782781, citation number 3, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on May 4 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1807 E. 28th St, Lorain, Ohio.

Issued

Aug 6, 2015

Abate by

Aug 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $7,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and 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:    a. Republic Steel located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about April 21, 2015, the employer did not ensure the etch tanks located in the tech center which contained hydrochloric acid, were properly labeled with the product identifier, signal word, hazard statement, pictogram, precautionary statement, and information about the chemical manufacturer.      Republic Steel was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i) and 29 CFR 1910.1200 (f)(5)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 944135, citation number 1, item number 6a and citation number 1, item number 6b and was affirmed as a final order on April 14, 2014, with respect to a workplace located at 401 Rose Avenue, Massillon, Ohio 44646.