OSHA Inspection: APICORE US LLC

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit access(es) were not arranged so that it would not be necessary to travel toward any area of high hazard in order to reach the nearest exit, and the path of travel was not effectively shielded from the high hazard location by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Open Warehouse area: Employer stored drums containing hazardous waste such as but not limited to Category 2 flammable liquids (Acetonitrile, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol). The Open Warehouse area had approximately 44 drums containing hazardous waste which at least 16 had flammable liquid. In order to access the emergency exit door employees would have to go through the flammable storage area.    Condition observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(i): Inside storage rooms were not constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction did not comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Openings to other rooms or buildings were not provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area were not at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings were not provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room was not liquid-tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp was not an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows were not protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, for Class E or F openings:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Employer stores drums containing Category 2 flammable liquids such as Acetonitrile, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol. The flammable storage area is not constructed to meet the fire-resistive rating requirements of this section to include raised sills and self-closing fire door:  a) Open Warehouse Area had approximately 44 drums containing hazardous waste which at least 16 had flammable liquids such as Methanol and Acetonitrile   b) Store 1 Area had approximately 38 drums containing flammable liquid such as Methanol and Ethyl Acetate    Condition observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(iii): Electrical wiring and equipment located in inside storage rooms used for Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), shall be approved under subpart S of this part for Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ: Employer stores drums containing Category 2 flammable liquids such as but not limited to Acetonitrile, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol. Electrical wiring and equipment inside storage rooms where Category 2 flammable liquids are stored were not rated for hazardous locations:  a) Open Warehouse Area had approximately 44 drums containing hazardous waste which at least 16 had flammable liquid such as Methanol and Acetonitrile   b) Store 1 Area had approximately 38 drums containing flammable liquid such as Methanol and Ethyl Acetate    Condition observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,960 Reduced

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 for required respirator use:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Throughout the facility: The Employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees required to wear air purifying respirators such as, but not limited to:     a) Half mask elastomeric respirator (3M)  b) Full facepiece elastomeric respirator (3M, 6800 and 6900)    Violation observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

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 employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or was required to use the respirator in the workplace:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Throughout the facility: The employer did not provide medical evaluations prior to requiring employees to use respirators in the workplace. Employees are required to wear air purifying respirators such as, but not limited to:     a) Half mask elastomeric respirator (3M)  b) Full facepiece elastomeric respirator (3M, 6800 and 6900)    Violation observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):  The employer did not ensure that employees were provided with effective training when employees were required to wear respirators, and did not ensure that employees could demonstrate knowledge as required in (k)(1)(i)-(k)(1)(vii):    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Throughout the facility: The Employer did not provide training to employees required to wear air purifying respirators such as, but not limited to:     a) Half mask elastomeric respirator (3M)  b) Full facepiece elastomeric respirator (3M, 6800 and 6900)    Violation observed on or about August 24, 2015.

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    Apicore US LLC/Somerset, NJ - Throughout the facility: Employees were not provided with information on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, including new label elements and the new standardized format for Safety Data Sheets.  Employees use hazardous chemicals on daily basis.      Violation occurred on or about August 24, 2015