OSHA Inspection: REFUSE MATERIALS, INC.

Issued

Jan 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

Hazardous substances C730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Employee(s) were exposed to material(s) at concentrations above those specified in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:  a) At the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Wal-Mart employees were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) while working around a Kohler Generator (Model Number: 20RESA) with a Foley Industrial Scrubber (Model Number: 4sxt-14resa and Serial Number: 90223) that was being used, by Refuse Materials, Inc employees, inside the store, to remove expansion joint caulking. Employees became ill and the fire department and emergency medical services were called, where subsequent evaluation determined the employees had CO overexposure.   An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 300 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 574.2 parts per million (ppm) CO level (Sampling and Analytical Error (SAE) = 0.291). The carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 46.5%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) exposure was 358.9 ppm CO (SAE = 0.291), which is 7.18 times the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm CO.   An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 240 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 497.1 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.467). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 42.0%. Atmospheric pressure, height,  weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 248.5 ppm CO (SAE = 0.471), which is 4.97 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 330 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 349.7 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.168). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 33.8%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 240.4 ppm CO (SAE = 0.169), which is 4.81 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 255 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 362.4 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.247). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 35.0%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 192.5 ppm CO ( SAE = 0.252), which is 3.85 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee  was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 310 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 226.0 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.404). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 32.9%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8 hour TWA exposure was 146.0 ppm CO (SAE = 0.400), which is 2.92 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  Time Weighted Average (TWA) exposure was averaged over an 8-hour shift - zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled for each calculation. This violation was discovered on or about August 10, 2015.

Issued

Jan 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances C730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s):  a) At the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Wal-Mart employees were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) while working around a Kohler Generator (Model Number: 20RESA) with a Foley Industrial Scrubber (Model Number: 4sxt-14resa and Serial Number: 90223) that was being used, by Refuse Materials, Inc employees, inside the store, to remove expansion joint caulking. Wal-Mart employees became ill and the fire department and emergency medical services were called, where subsequent evaluation determined the employees had CO overexposure. Refuse Materials, Inc did not have a carbon monoxide detector (Drager PAC3500 Carbon Monoxide Detector) onsite to provide an administrative control to ensure that the engineering controls were working properly.   An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 300 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 574.2 parts per million (ppm) CO level (Sampling and Analytical Error (SAE) = 0.291). The carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 46.5%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) exposure was 358.9 ppm CO (SAE = 0.291), which is 7.18 times the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm CO.   An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 240 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 497.1 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.467). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 42.0%. Atmospheric pressure, height,  weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 248.5 ppm CO (SAE = 0.471), which is 4.97 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 330 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 349.7 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.168). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 33.8%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 240.4 ppm CO (SAE = 0.169), which is 4.81 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 255 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 362.4 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.247). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 35.0%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 192.5 ppm CO ( SAE = 0.252), which is 3.85 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  An employee  was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 310 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 226.0 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.404). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 32.9%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8 hour TWA exposure was 146.0 ppm CO (SAE = 0.400), which is 2.92 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.  Time Weighted Average (TWA) exposure was averaged over an 8-hour shift - zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled for each calculation. This violation was discovered on or about August 10, 2015.