OSHA Inspection: BI-STATE INSTALLATION SERVICES, LLC

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1700.00 · Current $1020.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(3): The employer did not designate a program administrator who was qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and to conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, the employer did not designate a qualified respiratory protection program administrator to evaluate effectiveness of implementation of the written respirator program for two employees who were required to wear N95 half mask air purifying respirators when window sills were cut using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders.  The two employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Crystalline Silica, Quartz.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used:    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, two employees were not fit tested with the same make and  model of respirator they were required to wear when window sills were cut using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders which exposed the two employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Crystalline Silica, Quartz.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1700.00 · Current $1020.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function: (Construction Reference 1926.103):    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, an employee had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of an N95 half mask filtering face-piece respirator and the face.  The employee was required to wear the respirator when window sills were cut using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders which exposed two employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Crystalline Silica, Quartz.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of why the respirator was necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance could compromise the protective effect of the respirator:  (Construction Reference 1926.103)    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, the employer did not ensure an employee demonstrated knowledge of how improper respirator use can compromise the protective effect of a N95 half mask filtering face-piece respirator that was required to be worn when window sills were cut using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders which exposed two employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Crystalline Silica, Quartz.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(m)(4): Written materials required to be retained under 29 CFR 1910.134 were not made available upon request to affected employees and to the Assistant Secretary or designee for examination and copying:  (Construction Reference 1926.103)   On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, the employer did not provide upon request by OSHA, copies of written information regarding written medical recommendations for employees ability to use respirators, fit testing, and the respirator program.  Two employees were required to wear N95 half mask air purifying respirators when window sills were cut using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders which exposes them to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Crystalline Silica, Quartz.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1360.00 · Current $816.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain a safety program which provides for frequent and regular inspections of jobsites, materials, and equipment to be made by a competent person:    a. On or about August 12, 2015, 4th floor of building, where lead containing paint was present at window sills, the employer did not have a person competent in the OSHA requirements for lead, conduct frequent and regular inspections of employees working near-by two subcontractor employees who used a grinder to level window sills.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010BWPB

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:    a.  On or about August 12, 2015, 4th floor of building, the employer did not provide instruction on the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to lead to five employees who worked where lead containing paint was present which exposes employees to lead hazards.     b.  On or about August 12, 2015, 4th floor of building, the employer did not provide instruction on the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to crystalline silica to five employees who worked where window sills were leveled using a hand held grinder which exposes employees to crystalline silica hazards.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances BWPB

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(d)(7): Additional exposure monitoring was not conducted when there had been a change of equipment, process, control, personnel, or a new task initiated that may have resulted in employees already exposed at or above the action level being exposed above the permissible exposure limit:    On or about August 12, 2015, 4th floor of building, a lead exposure determination which included personal air sampling of employees was not done for a new task, window sill leveling.  Employees worked near window sill leveling operations where lead containing paint was present, which exposes employees to lead hazards.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1700.00 · Current $1020.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Employee(s) were exposed to material(s) at concentrations above those specified in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:   On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, an employees personal 8-hour time-weighted average (8-Hr TWA) exposure to respirable dust containing 20.4% Crystalline Silica Quartz was 14.1 million particles per cubic feet of air (mppcf), during wet cutting of window sills using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders.  The exposure exceeded the OSHA 8-Hr TWA Crystalline Silica Quartz PEL of 9.84 mppcf by 1.4 times for respirable dust containing 20.4% Crystalline Silica Quartz.  The personal air monitoring consisted of two samples collected during a 375 minute sampling period on 8/21/2015.  The remaining un-sampled time of 105 minutes was included in the 8-Hr TWA as a zero exposure period.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s):    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, engineering, work practice, and/or administrative controls were not first implemented for an employee who used an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders to level window sills. The employee was exposed to Crystalline Silica Quartz in excess of the OSHA PEL.  Feasible engineering, work practice, and/or administrative controls include but were not limited to the following:          1.  Supply grinding tool blade with 0.5 liters of water per minute,     2.  Use grinding tools equipped with local exhaust ventilation and a HEPA filter,     3.  Rotate window sill cutting and grinding duties among different employees.

Issued

2016-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1700.00 · Current $1020.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.95(a): Personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, was not provided, used, or maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition it was necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact.    On or about August 21, 2015, 4th floor of building, protective clothing to prevent contamination of street clothing with crystalline silica containing material was not provided to an employee who cut window sills using an abrasive cut-off saw and angle grinders and who was exposed in excess of the OSHA 8-Hr TWA Crystalline Silica Quartz PEL.