OSHA Inspection: SWARTFAGER WELDING, INC.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:         a.)    Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Dip/Blast Area # 11-on or about October 29, 2015 and times prior thereto:  The employer did not institute a continuing and effective hearing conservation program when employee's noise exposure exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 85 dbA:       A.)An employee performing metal blasting operations including, but not limited to, blasting metal parts to remove impurities at blaster unit #25 was exposed to noise at a level of 121.4 % of the allowable limit during a 453 minute sampling period on October 29, 2015; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 27 minutes not sampled.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 91.4 dbA for the dose and time of the employee exposure.       B.) An employee performing metal blasting operations including, but not limited to, blasting metal parts to remove impurities at blaster unit #21 was exposed to noise at a level of 73.82 % of the allowable limit during a 456 minute sampling period on October 29, 2015; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 24 minutes not sampled.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.8 dbA for the dose and time of the employee exposure.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    a.)    Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Dip/Blast Area # 11-on or about October 29, 2015 and times prior thereto: The employer had not established valid baseline audiograms within 6 months of employees' first exposure at or above the action level of 85dBA for employees overexposed to noise as described in Citation 1 Item 1a.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:    a.)         Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Dip/Blast Area # 11-on or about October 29, 2015 and times prior thereto: The employer did not institute, and ensure employee participation in, a Hearing Conservation training program for all employees who were exposed to noise that exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 85 dBA for employees overexposed to noise as described in Citation 1 Item 1a.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.124(g)(2): Employees who  worked with liquids that could burn, irritate, or otherwise harm their skin were not provided with an emergency shower and eye-wash station close to the dipping and coating operation:       a.) Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Dip tank area-on or about October 6, 2015 and times prior thereto:  Employees worked with and around corrosive materials including, but not limited to, Zep Formula 12475, and Zep formula 15282 during dipping operations of parts into dip tanks. An emergency shower and eyewash station were not available in the work area around the dip tanks which contained corrosive liquids.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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.)Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Production areas-on or about October 29, 2015 and times prior thereto: Employees worked with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, Zep Formula 12475, and Zep formula 15282, and welding fumes during work operations onsite.  A written Hazard Communication Program had not been developed.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Abate by

Feb 5, 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:     a.)Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Production areas-on or about October 6, 2015 and times prior thereto: Employees worked with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, Zep Formula 12475, and Zep formula 15282, and welding fumes during work operations onsite.  Hazard Communication training had not been conducted with employees.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:       a.)    Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Production areas-on or about October 6, 2015 and times prior thereto: Employees worked with and around a dip tank containing Zep formula 15282 in order to dip metal parts onsite.  The Zep formula 15282 dip tank was not labeled to identify the chemical(s) contained within the tank.

Issued

Dec 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    a.) Swartfager Welding, Inc. 199 Boyle Memorial Dr., Knox, Pa 16232-Production areas-on or about October 6, 2015 and times prior thereto: Employees worked with and around a dip tank containing Zep formula 15282 in order to dip metal parts onsite.  The Zep formula 15282 dip tank was not labeled to identify the hazard warnings of the chemical(s) contained within the tank.