OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN TOBACCO COMPANY

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $720.00 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:  (a) Warehouse area, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, the employer had not developed a written respiratory protection program for required use of respirators including 3M 60921 1/2 mask and 3M 8577 P95, used for mixing tobacco and tea.   A minimally acceptable respiratory protection program shall include all of the following  requirements:       1.  Written standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of the       respirators.       2.  Only approved respirators shall be used.  Respirators shall be selected on the basis       of hazards to which the worker is exposed.       3.  Respirators must be provided free of charge where respirators are needed to protect       the health of the employees.       4.  Employers must provide (free of charge) a medical evaluation to determine each       employee's fitness to wear a respirator before initial use.       5.  Before initial respirator use, fit testing is required for all employees using a negative       or positive pressure tight-fitting respirators where such respirators are required by OSHA       or where the employer requires the use of such respirator.      6.  The user shall be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their       limitations.       7.  Surveillance of the work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress       shall be conducted.       8.  Employer must ensure the use of respirators where respirators are needed to protect       the health of the employees.       9.  Respirators shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected to keep them in a sanitary       condition.       10. Respirators shall be stored in a clean and sanitary location to prevent damage and       contamination.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:   (a) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, the employer had conducted medical evaluations for required use of respirators including 3M 60921 and 3M 8577 half masks used mixing and flavoring tobacco and tea.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   (a) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26 2015, the employer had not conducted fit testing for required use of 3M half mask cartridge and filter respirators being used for mixing tea and tobacco.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): 29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):  (a) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, the employer had not developed a respiratory protection training program for required use of respirators including 3M half mask cartridge and particulate respirators used for mixing tobacco and tea.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:   (a) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, a written hazard communication program had not been developed for employees the chemicals that employees worked with including tobacco and numerous tobacco flavorings.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  (a) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, safety data sheets were not maintained on each workplace chemical that they worked with including numerous tobacco flavorings.

Issued

2015-10-14 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) Statesboro warehouse, on or about and at times preceding to August 26, 2015, employees were not trained on the hazards of the chemicals that they worked with including numerous tobacco flavorings.