OSHA Inspection: THE ALLOY ENGINEERING COMPANY

Issued

Jan 6, 2016

Abate by

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $9,800 · Current $6,860 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c):     Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average:    On or about October 28, 2015, employees performing welding operations were exposed to levels of Hexavalent Chromium above the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter based on an 8 hour time weighted average. The employees exposures were 1.9 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 3.8 times the PEL.     The Alloy Engineering Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 563578, citation number 1-3/a, and was affirmed as a final order on 11/15/12, with respect to a workplace located at 844 Thacker Street. Berea, OH 44017.    Engineering controls usually effective in these circumstances include but are not limited to the following:    1. Local exhaust ventilation   2. Gun mounted fume extractor  3. Vacuum nozzle at the arc      Abatement Steps     STEP 1:  Effective respirators shall be provided and used by all employee(s) as an interim measure.  Abatement must be completed by 1/15/2016     STEP 2:  Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation.    a)  Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source.     b)  Evaluation of control measure options.    c)  Selection of optimum control method(s).    d)  Determination of control measure design.    e)  Ordering and delivery of equipment and material(s).    f)  Installation of control measures.     g)  Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly-implemented control measures.     h)  Assurance of effective performance of control measures.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a technically qualified person.  Abatement must be completed by 2/11/2016.    STEP 3:  Correction should have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Abatement must be completed by 3/15/2016.

Issued

Jan 6, 2016

Abate by

May 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i):     Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit:    On or about October 28, 2015, employees performing welding operations were exposed to levels of Hexavalent Chromium above the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter based on an 8 hour time weighted average. The employees exposures were 1.9 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 3.8 times the PEL.     The Alloy Engineering Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 563578, citation number 1-3/c, and was affirmed as a final order on 11/15/12, with respect to a workplace located at 844 Thacker Street. Berea, OH 44017.