OSHA Inspection: SME INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Nov 10, 2015

Abate by

Dec 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures in any workplace where respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators were required by the employer.    (a)  Building 28, on or about July 15, 2015, and at time prior thereto, respiratory protection use was optional and not required for welders exposed to welding fumes, from mild steel welding, in excess of the cumulative permissible exposure limit (PEL) for iron fume, manganese fume, and copper fume.      Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Nov 10, 2015

Abate by

Dec 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  (a)  Building 28, on or about July 15, 2015, and at time prior thereto, air monitoring for welding contaminants was not conducted for welders exposed to welding fumes, from mild steel welding, in excess of the cumulative permissible exposure limit (PEL) for iron fume, manganese fume, and copper fume.    Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Nov 10, 2015

Abate by

Dec 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(d)(2)(i): An employee was exposed to iron oxide fume;  manganese fume; and copper fume listed in the Z tables in excess of the cumulative exposure limit:    (a)  Building 28, on or about July 15, 2015, and at time prior thereto, welder(s) welding with a MIG welder using Lincoln Electric Company 70C welding wire was exposed to iron oxide fume concentration of 10.41 milligrams/cubic meter (where the Permissible Exposure Limit was 10.0); and manganese fume concentration of 2.36 milligrams/ cubic meter; and copper fume concentration of 0.02 milligrams/cubic meter.  The sum or cumulative exposure of contaminants exceeded unity for an exposure severity of 1.69 or 169% of the combined permissible exposure limits (PEL).    Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Nov 10, 2015

Abate by

Dec 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $3,500

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)  Building 28, on or about July 15, 2015, and at time prior thereto, welder was welding with a MIG welder using Lincoln Electric Company 70C welding wire was exposed to iron oxide fume concentration of 10.41 milligrams/cubic meter (where the Permissible Exposure Limit was 10.0); and manganese fume concentration of 2.36 milligrams/ cubic meter; and copper fume concentration of 0.02 milligrams/cubic meter.  The sum or cumulative exposure of contaminants exceeded unity for an exposure severity of 1.69 or 169% of the combined permissible exposure limits (PEL).    Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.

Issued

Nov 10, 2015

Abate by

Dec 8, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073115201620

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)  Building 28, on or about July 15, 2015, and at time prior thereto,  approximately 80 welders welding on mild steel,  exposed to welding fumes and dust containing iron oxide, manganese; and copper.  Employees were not provided adequate training as to the potential symptoms and target organs from exposure to these metals.  Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.