OSHA Inspection: NPN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS, INC.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(9)(i): Each contractor who was retained to perform permit space entry operations did not obtain any available information regarding permit space hazards and entry operations from the host employer:  a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer failed to ensure that all available information regarding the contents of Tank 45, an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, was obtained prior to employee entry and exposure to the solidified contents of the tank, Suprasec 2029. The employer possessed only the technical data sheet for the Suprase 2029, a methylene bisphenyl isocyanate containing chemical. The employer did not possess the safety data sheet for the chemical.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $8900.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(2): The employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees were required to enter the space:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in Tank 45, associated with employee exposure aniline. An employee entered from the top of the above-ground storage tank, which measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter via, a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. Exposure routes for aniline include, but are not limited to, inhalation and skin absorption. An employee was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia, a potentially fatal condition, following work entry and work inside Tank 45. Methemoglobinemia is a known symptom of exposure to aniline.      b) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not identify and evaluate dermal hazards in Tank 45, associated with employee exposure aniline. An employee entered from the top of the above-ground storage tank, which measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. Exposure routes for aniline include, but are not limited to, inhalation and skin absorption. An employee was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia, a potentially fatal condition, following work entry and work inside Tank 45. Methemoglobinemia is a known symptom of exposure to aniline.      c) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in Tank 45, associated with employee exposure p-toluidine. An employee entered from the top of the above-ground storage tank, which measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. Exposure routes for aniline include, but are not limited to, inhalation and skin absorption. An employee was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia, a potentially fatal condition, following work entry and work inside Tank 45. Methemoglobinemia is a known symptom of exposure p-toluidine.      d) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not identify and evaluate dermal hazards in Tank 45, associated with employee exposure p-toluidine. An employee entered from the top of the above-ground storage tank, which measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. Exposure routes for aniline include, but are not limited to, inhalation and skin absorption. An employee was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia, a potentially fatal condition, following work entry and work inside Tank 45. Methemoglobinemia is a known symptom of exposure to p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including specifying acceptable entry conditions:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not specify acceptable entry conditions prior to permit-required confined space entry into an above-ground storage tank, that measured 22 feet tall by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Suprasec 2029. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazard associated with exposure to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iv): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit entry operations, including, but not limited to, purging, interting, flushing or ventilation the permit spaces as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not eliminate or control atmospheric hazards in the permit-required confined space of an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Suprasec 2029. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazard associated with exposure to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(vi): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit entry operations, including, but not limited to, verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not verify acceptable conditions inside the permit-required confined space of an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Suprasec 2029. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazard associated with exposure to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide, at no cost to the employees, testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5):      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, employees were not equipped with testing and monitoring equipment necessary to evaluate atmospheric conditions inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Surprasec 2029. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory hazards related to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(ii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide, at no cost to the employees, ventilating equipment needed to obtain acceptable entry conditions:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that ventilation equipment was available to ensure permit-required confined space entry conditions were acceptable inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Suprasec 2029. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory hazards related to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(iv): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide personal protective equipment in so far as feasible engineering and work practice controls did not adequately protect employees:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that adequate personal protective equipment was utilized inside the permit-required confined space of an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter. An employee was equipped with a Survivair 7800S full-face, tight fitting, air purifying respirator with Survivair 1058 multi-contaminant / P100 cartridges in a space that contained an unknown concentration of aniline and p-toluidine. This condition exposed the employee to a potential immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) condition.       In the Alternative       29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): When the employer was unable to identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer did not consider the atmosphere to be IDLH:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not identify or estimate aniline or p-toluidine atmospheric hazards inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter. An employee was equipped with a Survivair 7800S full-face, tight fitting, air purifying respirator with Survivair 1058 multi-contaminant / P100 cartridges in a space that contained an unknown concentration of aniline and p-toluidine. This condition exposed the employee to a potential immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) condition.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed prior to authorized entry:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not evaluate the atmospheric hazards inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter. The employer utilized a Crowcon Gas Pro 4-gas meter, equipped with oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, lower explosive limit, and carbon monoxide sensors to assess an atmosphere which contained organic vapors of aniline and p-toluidine. An employee entered from the top via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory hazards related to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing or monitoring the permit space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions were maintained during the course of entry operations:       a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, did not utilize equipment necessary to ensure atmospheric hazards inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained solidified Suprasec 2029 was acceptable while an employee utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified Suprasec 2029. The CrowCon Pro 4-gas meter, equipped with oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, lower explosive limit, and carbon monoxide sensors was not capable to assess organic vapor concentrations. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory hazards related to aniline and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(h)(1): The employer did not ensure that all authorized entrants knew the hazards that could be faced during entry, including information on the mode, sign or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the authorized entrant was aware of signs or symptoms associated with exposure to aniline. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to aniline.    b) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the authorized entrant was aware of signs or symptoms associated with exposure to p-toluidine. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(i)(1): The employer did not ensure that each attendant knew the hazards that could be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the attendant was aware of signs or symptoms associated with exposure to aniline. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to aniline.    b) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the attendant entrant was aware of signs or symptoms associated with exposure to p-toluidine. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(i)(2): The employer did not ensure that each attendant was aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the attendant was aware of possible behavioral effects associated with exposure to aniline. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to aniline.    b) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the attendant was aware of possible behavioral effects associated with exposure to p-toluidine. An authorized entrant entered an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, via a 21 inch manway, descended a chain ladder approximately 18 feet to the solidified Suprasec 2029, and utilized a 30 pound and then a 60 pound pneumatic chipping hammer to break up the solidified material. This condition exposed the employee to respiratory and dermal hazards related to p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor knew the hazards that could be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:      a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the entry supervisor was aware of the hazards associated with work inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained a solidified Suprasec 2029. The entry supervisor was not aware of the signs, symptoms, and/or consequence of exposure related to aniline. This condition exposed the authorized entrant to dermal and respiratory hazards.      b) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the entry supervisor was aware of the hazards associated with work inside an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter, which contained a solidified Suprasec 2029. The entry supervisor was not aware of the signs, symptoms, and/or consequence of exposure related to p-toluidine. This condition exposed the authorized entrant to dermal and respiratory hazards.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2800.00

Hazardous substances 0220T105

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) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer was contracted to remove a solidified layer of Suprasec 2029 from an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter. The employer did not provide employees with information regarding respiratory and dermal hazards associated with exposure to aromatic compounds inside the tank to include, methylene bisphenyl isocyanate, aniline, and p-toluidine.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)    a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, the employer was contracted to remove a solidified layer of Suprasec 2029 from an above-ground storage tank that measured 22 feet in height by 7 feet in diameter. The employer did not ensure that a copy of the safety data sheet for Suprasec 2029 was available to employees while they conducted permit-required confined space entry into the tank.

Issued

2015-10-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2): The employer did not report an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye as a result of a work-related incident to OSHA within twenty-four (24) hours.    a) NPN Environmental Engineering, Inc. @ 307 Intergram Drive, Pacific MO 63069: On June 15, 2015, an employee was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri for injuries he sustained related to work inside an above-ground storage tank, which measured 22 feet in height and 7 feet in diameter. The employer notified OSHA, via 24 hour hotline, at 18:32 on June 16, 2015, approximately 30 hours after the employer was aware of the admittance.