OSHA Inspection: PYROPURE, INC. D/B/A PYROMET

Issued

Apr 12, 2016

Abate by

Jun 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:    a) Pyropure (Rotary Furnace) - The employer did not select and have each affected employee use heat resistant clothing including, but not limited to, full arm sleeves, apron, etc. to protect affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment.  Condition noted on or about November 12, 2015.

Issued

Apr 12, 2016

Abate by

Dec 22, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of silver listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.010mg/m3:    a) Pyropure, 5 Commerce Drive, Aston, PA (Can Area and Rotary Furnace) - A Can Furnace Operator was exposed to 0.0384mg/m3 of an airborne concentration of siliver for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) during a 385 minutes occupational exposure, which was 3.84 times the OSHA PEL of 0.010 mg/m3.  Violation occurred on/about November 19, 2015.    b) A Rotary Furnace Operator was exposed to 0.0532mg/m3 of an airborne concentration of silver for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) during a 373 minutes occupational exposure, which was 5.32 times the OSHA PEL of 0.010 mg/m3.  Violation occurred on/about November 19, 2015.

Issued

Apr 12, 2016

Abate by

Dec 22, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    a) Pyropure, Inc. dba Pyromet - Bayco Oven, Rotary Furnace.  The Employer did not implement effective engineering controls and work practices to achieve compliances when employees were overexposed to airborne concentrations of silver.  A Can Furnace Operator was exposed to 0.0384mg/m3 of an airborne concentration of silver for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) during a 385 minutes occupational exposure, which was 3.84 times the OSHA PEL of 0.010 mg/m3.  A Rotary Furnace Operator was exposed to 0.0532mg/m3 of an airborne concentration of silver for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) during a 373 minutes occupational exposure, which was 5.32 times the OSHA PEL of 0.010 mg/m3.      Violation occurred on/about November 19, 2015.      General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:    1.  Local exhaust, when feasible, is the most efficient method of removing  contaminants from an employee's breathing zone.  Re-evaluate the booth/hood at the Bayco oven/scale and at the rotary furnace.    2.  Provide enclosures or means of operation away from the dust generated by loading the furnace.  In addition, implement other methods to load the furnace to control exposures.    3.  Implement a preventative maintenance program for all exhaust units and perform periodic monitoring of the flow rates for each.    4. Implement a cleaning schedule to include vacuuming with a HEPA filter for all surfaces of the work areas.      5. Perform air monitoring/sampling to assure adequate protection and controls.

Issued

Apr 12, 2016

Abate by

Apr 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,400

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:    a) Pyropure (tilt can, rotary and tilt furnace):  Employees did not receive training on the physical and health hazards of exposure to silver.  Observed on or about November 12, 2015.