OSHA Inspection: IBARRA GROUP LLC

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment:    (a) On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to perform metal fabrication operations, including grinding and/or welding, was exposed to continuous noise at a 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of approximately 92.5 decibels or, equivalently, a dose of approximately 141.3% during a 380 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the time period not sampled.    (b) On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to perform metal fabrication operations, including grinding and/or welding, was exposed to continuous noise at a 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of approximately 91.0 decibels or, equivalently, a dose of approximately 114.2% during a 373 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the time period not sampled.    (c) On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to perform metal fabrication operations, including grinding and/or welding, was exposed to continuous noise at a 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of approximately 87.6 decibels or, equivalently, a dose of approximately 72.4% during a 357 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the time period not sampled.    (d) On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to perform metal fabrication operations, including grinding and/or welding, was exposed to continuous noise at a 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of approximately 87.6 decibels or, equivalently, a dose of approximately 72.1% during a 363 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the time period not sampled.    (e) On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, an employee required to perform metal fabrication operations, including grinding and/or welding, was exposed to continuous noise at a 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of approximately 87.3 decibels or, equivalently, a dose of approximately 69.2% during a 361 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the time period not sampled.    A continuing, effective hearing conservation program had not been instituted by the employer.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks):    On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) used half-mask air-purifying respirators voluntarily.  The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use the respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that it's use did not present a health hazard to the user.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) were exposed to the hazard of contact with potentially hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, metal fume, dust and gases.  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which described how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) will be met.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.):  On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) were exposed to potentially hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, metal fume, dust and gases.  The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets:  On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) were exposed to potentially hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, metal fume, dust and gases.  The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:  On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) were exposed to skin and eye hazards necessitating the use of personal protective equipment.  The employer did not verify through a written certification that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.

Issued

Jul 17, 2015

Abate by

Sep 2, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2)(ii): Each lavatory shall be provided with hot and cold running water, or tepid running water:  On or about May 27, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform metal fabrication operations (i.e. welding, grinding) were not provided lavatories with hot and cold or tepid running water.