OSHA Inspection: PURE AIR FILTRATION, LLC

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:  a) Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Employees working on the hopper platform in the media room were exposed to a fall hazard. The work platform was approximately 5 feet 8 inches from the above concrete ground level was not guarded on the open sides, on or about 6/19/15.  b) Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Employees working on the blending platform in the media room were exposed to a fall hazard.  The work platform was approximately 9 feet 4 inches from the above concrete ground level and did not have a midrail on the open side, on or about 6/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.26(c)(3)(vii): Portable ladders were used for other uses than that for which they were intended:   Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Employees working on the hopper platform in the media room were exposed to a fall hazard while using a step ladder to access the platform and the spreader arms were not open or locked, on or about 6/19/15.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): When the employer had assessed the workplace hazard(s) and determined that hazard(s) were present, the employer did not select and/or ensure the use the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the hazard:   Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Employees required to pour corrosive chemicals into a 500 gallon mixing tank were exposed to eye and skin burn hazards. A temporary employee received 2nd degree burns on his arm and wrist when splashed with Potassium Permanganate (corrosive).  The employer did not evaluate the personal protective equipment to ensure there was adequate protection against hazards of corrosive chemicals, did not train employees on the personal protective equipment(PPE), and/or did not ensure that the PPE was worn, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Employees required to pour corrosive chemicals into a 500 gallon mixing tank were exposed to eye and skin burn hazards. A temporary employee received 2nd degree burns on his arm and wrist when splashed with Potassium Permanganate (corrosive).  The employer did not certify that the personal protective equipment (PPE) evaluation had been conducted, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

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:  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the media room, employees were required to use a 3M half mask and full face, tight fitting respirators for protection against dust and vapors.  A written respiratory protection program had not been established, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:      Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the media room, employees were required to use 3M half mask and full face, tight fitting respirators for protection against dust and vapors.  Respirators were observed stored improperly and not cleaned.  A medical evaluation was not conducted, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the media room, employees were required to use 3M half mask and full face, tight fitting respirators for protection against dust and vapors.  Respirators were observed stored in the media room on the tables. Training on respirators was not conducted, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:    a) Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Maintenance and repairs are made by employees on equipment such as the blending machine and the agglomerator machine (i.e. replacing the gear box).  A lockout/tag out program had not been developed and implemented,  on 6/19/15.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:   Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Media Room-Temporary and full time employees are required to pour hazardous chemicals into the 500 gallon chemical mixing tank, such as, but are not limited to 20-29% Caustic Soda, Sodium Permanganate, and Potassium Permanganate, classified as corrosives. The emergency eye wash provided was disassembled in the corner of the room on the floor behind several boxes and not available for immediate use, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Production Area-Full time and temporary employee(s) were required to operate the Nissan and two Caterpillar powered forklifts and had not completed training and/or evaluation as specified by this standard, on or about  06/19/15.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the media room, employees were exposed to caught-between and amputation hazards while operating the agglomerator machine. The lower portion of the chain and sprocket of the agglomerator machine, located approximately 64" from the floor, was not completely guarded, on or about 6/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Nov 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - Two electrical boxes located in the media room (near the hopper platform and near the storage area) were not enclosed to prevent accidental contact with live parts, on or about 06/19/15.

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,200 Reduced

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:   Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the production area, temporary and full time employees handle caustic soda, potassium permanganate, sodium thiosulfate, aluminum oxide, etc.  The employer had not developed a written hazard communication program, on or about 06/19/15.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Nov 6, 2015

Abate by

Dec 4, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv): Employees had not been provided with GHS 2012 training including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system to be used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  Pure Air Filtration, LLC, Doraville, GA - In the production area, temporary and full time employees handle caustic soda, potassium permanganate, sodium thiosulfate, aluminum oxide, etc.  Information and training under the new globally harmonized system (GHS) such as, but not limited to labeling system, and written hazard communication program had not been conducted, on or about 06/19/15.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).