OSHA Inspection: UNITED SUPPLIERS, INC.

Issued

Nov 2, 2015

Abate by

Dec 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(2): Ladderway floor opening(s) or platform(s) were not guarded by a standard railing with standard toeboard(s) on all exposed sides (except at the entrance to opening) with passage through the railing either provided with a swinging gate or so offset that a person could walk directly into the opening:  Employees unloading sulfuric acid from a railcar were exposed to a 12-foot fall from:  a)  a walkway exposed on all sides and used between the railcar operator's stand and the railcar.  b)  atop the railcar and the height of the standard railing was approximately 36-inches from the metal platform.

Issued

Nov 2, 2015

Abate by

Mar 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(f): Rise height and tread width were not uniform throughout any flight of stairs including any foundation structure used as one or more treads of the stairs:    The employer provided stairs to the railcar unloading platform and the tread height measured 9-inches throughout except for the height of the first descent stair that measured 4.5-inches.

Issued

Nov 2, 2015

Abate by

Mar 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,000 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:    Employees were exposed to contact with 93-percent sulfuric acid (corrosive) and the:    a) emergency eyewash near the phosphoric acid tanks did not provide adequate flow of water that would address both eyes.    b) non potable water was used for the emergency eyewash and safety shower near the phosphoric acid tanks and the water was not tepid.    c) non potable water was used for the emergency eyewash and safety shower near the sulfuric acid unloading platform and the water was not tepid.

Issued

Nov 2, 2015

Abate by

Mar 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii): Employees who participated as hazardous materials technicians, or were expected to participate as hazardous materials technicians, had not received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level, and in addition have competency in the areas outlined in 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii)(A) through (q)(6)(iii)(I) and/or the employer did not so certify:    The employer did not provide at least 24-hours of training for the employees that responded to a release of approximately 2000-pounds of 93-percent of sulfuric acid (liquid), including the initiation of an Incident Command System, construction of a containment berm, and chemical neutralization.  The employer did not certify and ensure competency in the following:    i)  classification, identification, and verification of the sulfuric acid by using field survey instruments and equipment.  ii)  functioning in assigned roles of the Incident Command System (ICS).  iii)  understanding of hazard and risk assessment techniques.  iv)  advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.  v)  understanding and implementation of termination procedures.  vi)  understanding of basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.

Issued

Nov 2, 2015

Abate by

Dec 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv): Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees:    On or about August 10, 2015, approximately 2000-pounds of 93-percent of sulfuric acid (liquid) was released from atop of a railcar while unloading and the employer did not conduct air monitoring for sulfuric acid fumes/vapors/mists when:    a) an employee responded to the emergency shower nearest the railcar to help relocate an injured employee to a secondary emergency eyewash and safety shower for decontamination because the first shower was within the immediate vicinity of the spraying acid.    b) employees used front end loaders to construct a containment berm out of sand to isolate the released acid.    c) employees mobilized an ambulance emergency response service past the acid containment berm under construction to reach the injured employee under the emergency shower being decontaminated of the released sulfuric acid.    d) employees used front end loaders to move the neutralized acid, residual soda ash and limestone, and the sand containment berm into the tailings bin.