OSHA Inspection: ADVANCED REFRACTORY TECHNOLOGIES

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 20, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,090 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee was exposed to respirable dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 5 mg/m3 as listed in Table Z-3:      a)  In the Facility, on or about May 12, 2015 - An employee designated as a blaster was exposed to respirable dust at a time weighted average exposure of 5.86 mg/m3.  This level is 1.17 times the permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on May 12, 2015 for 97 minutes and  zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Oct 20, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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 Facility, on or about May 12, 2015 - The employer did not implement feasible administrative or engineering controls when employees were exposed to respirable dust above the permissible exposure limit.  (See description of employee exposure in Citation 1, Item 1a, Instance a).

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $810 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

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 May 1, 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 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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 May 1, 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 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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 May 1, 2015 - The employer did not provide a fit test for employees who are required to use a respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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 May 1, 2015 - The employer did not provide respirator training to employees who are required to use a respirator in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,090 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 12, 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 blaster was exposed to noise at a level of 67.2% of the allowable limit during a 101 minute sampling period on May 12, 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.

Issued

Jul 17, 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 12, 2015 - The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for employees whose noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average exposure of 85 dBA.  (See results of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1, Instances a and b).

Issued

Jul 17, 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). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:    a)  In the Facility, on or about May 12, 2015 - The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average exposure of 85 dBA.   (See results of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1, Instances a and b).

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1): The employer shall make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of this standard and shall also post a copy in the workplace.    a)  In the Facility, on or about May 12, 2015 - The employer did not post a copy of 29 CFR 1910.95, the Occupational Noise Standard, in the workplace.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $810 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

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)  In the Facility, on or about May 1, 2015 - The employer did not develop, implement and/or maintain a written hazard communication program which describes how the labeling, safety data sheet and training elements will be met.  Employees work with hazardous materials at the facility including but not limited to silica.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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)  In the Facility, on or about May 1, 2015 - The employer did not provide effective information and training to employees on the hazardous chemicals in their work areas.  Employees work with hazardous materials at the facility including but not limited to silica.