OSHA Inspection: PENN STEEL FABRICATION, INC.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Aug 26, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    a)  Penn Steel - A Blaster was exposed to continuous noise at 700.2% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average of 104.0 dBA.  This exposure was observed over a 432 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement feasible engineering or administrative controls to reduce employee exposure to noise, on or about December 23, 2015.       Feasible engineering and/or administrative controls include but are not limited to:    1. Reduce the nozzle pressure used during blasting operations.    2. Change the type of blasting media in use with a softer type media.  3. Limit the amount of time the employee is conducting blasting operations on any one day.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Jul 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:     a)  Penn Steel - A Blaster was exposed to continuous noise at 700.2% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average of 104.0 dBA.  This exposure was observed over a 432 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a representative  monitoring program for those employees exposed over the action level of 85 dBA, on or about December 23, 2015.       Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Jul 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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)  Penn Steel - A Blaster was exposed to continuous noise at 700.2% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average of 104.0 dBA.  This exposure was observed over a 432 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not institute a training program for those employees exposed over the action level of 85 dBA, on or about December 23, 2015.       Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 13, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(1): Alloy steel chain slings did not have permanently affixed durable identification stating size, grade, rated capacity, and reach:    a) Penn Steel - On or about December 23, 2016, a Crane Operator was using an overhead crane for lifting a steel plate with a piece of chain that did not have identification indicating the size, grade, and rated capacity, exposing the employee to struck-by hazards.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 13, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(e)(2)(ii): Makeshift link(s) or fastener(s) formed from bolts, or other such attachment(s) were used to connect links or fastenings on alloy steel chain sling(s):  a) Penn Steel - On or about December 23, 2016, a Crane Operator was lifting a steel plate with a piece of chain looped together with a machine bolt, exposing the employee to struck by hazards.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 13, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(C):  Flexible cords and/ or cables were used for purposes prohibited by paragraph (C) where use of such cords is prohibited by paragraphs (A) through (F) of 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv):      a) Penn Steel - On or about December 22, 2015, employees working in the blasting/painting area were exposed to shock and electrical hazards from an extension cord being run through the window of an office trailer to power 110 Volt exhaust fans in the blasting/painting enclosure.    b) Penn Steel - On or about March 3, 2016, employees working in the fit-up area were exposed to shock and electrical hazards from an extension cord being run through the window of an office trailer, to power a 110 Volt handheld grinder.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)(iv): Electric equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, such as damaged electrical insulation:  a) Penn Steel - On or about December 22, 2015, employees working in the blasting/painting were operating 110 Volt portable exhaust fans that were being powered by a flexible cord, which had damaged electrical insulation at various points on the cord, exposing employees to electrical shock and burns.  No abatement certification or documentation required.  Corrected during inspection.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Particulates Not Otherwise  Regulated (Total Dust) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8-hour Time Weighted Average(TWA) - Permissible Exposure Limit(PEL) concentration of 15 mg per cubic meter for that contaminant:    a) Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to total dust at an eight hour time weighted average exposure of 1000 mg per cubic meter of air.  This level is 66.7 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 1015.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 280 minutes not sampled.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0360

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(b)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of beryllium listed in Table Z-2 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA) - Permissible Exposure Limit(PEL) concentration of .002 mg per cubic meter:  a) Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to Beryllium at an eight hour time weighted average of 0.0036 mg per cubic meter of air.  This level is 1.79 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.002 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 2016.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 280 minutes not sampled.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0360

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(b)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of beryllium listed in Table Z-2 in excess of the ceiling concentration of .005 milligrams per cubic meter:  a) Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to beryllium at 0.0086 mg per cubic meter of beryllium averaged over a 200 minute sampling period.  This level is 1.72 times the ceiling concentration limit of .005 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 2015.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Aug 26, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 03609135

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) Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to total dust at an eight hour time weighted average exposure of 1000 mg per cubic meter of air.  This level is 66.7 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 1015.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 280 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not determine or implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to achieve compliance with the limits.  b)  Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to Beryllium at an eight hour time weighted average of 0.0036 mg per cubic meter of air.  This level is 1.79 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.002 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 2016.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 280 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not determine or implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to achieve compliance with the limits.  c) Penn Steel Fabrication - An employee, a Blaster, was exposed to beryllium at 0.0086 mg per cubic meter of beryllium averaged over a 200 minute sampling period.  This level is 1.72 times the ceiling concentration limit of .005 mg per cubic meter.  This exposure occurred over a 200 minute sampling period on December 22, 2015.    The employer did not determine or implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to achieve compliance with the limits.  Feasible abatement methods include, but are not limited to:  1.  Perform blasting in a build and designed for abrasive blasting with linear airflow exiting through a filtering device. 2.  Substitute blasting media with one that contains less toxic materials. 3.  Limit the time any one employee performs abrasive blasting on any day.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0460106022109135

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)  Penn steel - On or about December 22, 2015, an employee was required to wear an airline supplied blasting hood to protect them from inhalation hazards of dusts such as, but not limited to, total dust and metal dust from blasting on steel with the blasting media, Black Blast.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection as required.  b)  Penn steel - On or about December 23, 2015, an employee was required to wear a full face cartridge respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards while spray painting structural steel with paint that contained hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 1-butanol.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection as required.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0460106022109135

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)  Penn steel - On or about December 22, 2015, an employee was required to wear an airline supplied blasting hood to protect them from inhalation hazards of dusts such as, but not limited to, total dust and metal dust from blasting on steel with the blasting media, Black Blast.  The employer did not provide medical evaluations as required.  b)  Penn steel - On or about December 23, 2015, an employee was required to wear a full face cartridge respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards while spray painting structural steel with paint that contained hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 1-butanol.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection as required.  The employer did not provide medical evaluations as required.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 046010602210

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)  Penn steel - On or about December 23, 2015, an employee was required to wear a full face cartridge respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards while spray painting structural steel with paint that contained hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 1-butanol.  The employer did not ensure that employees pass an appropriate qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

May 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Oil lubricated compressor(s) used to supply breathing air did not have a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm(s) or both:   a)  Penn steel - On or about December 22, 2015, an employee wearing an airline supplied blasting hood during blasting operations was being provided air from an oil lubricated compressor which was not equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm and the employer did not regularly monitor the air supply to ensure that carbon monoxide in the breathing air did not exceed 10 parts per million.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Jul 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0460106022109135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provided effective training to employees who are required to use respirators:    a)  Penn steel - On or about December 22, 2015, an employee was required to wear an airline supplied blasting hood to protect them from inhalation hazards of dusts such as, but not limited to, total dust and metal dust from blasting on steel with the blasting media, Black Blast.  The employer did not provide effective training on the required training elements of this section.    b)  Penn steel - On or about December 23, 2015, an employee was required to wear a full face cartridge respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards while spray painting structural steel with paint that contained hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 1-butanol.  The employer did not provide effective training on the required training elements of this section.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 03600460106022109135

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) Penn Steel - On or about December 23, 2015, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, welding consumables, metal dusts, and industrial spray paint, and 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.    No abatement certification or documentation is required.

Issued

Apr 25, 2016

Abate by

Jul 8, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0460106022109135

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) Penn Steel - On or about December 23, 2015, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, welding consumables, metal dusts, and industrial spray paint, and the employer did not provided effective  information and training on hazards of such chemicals as required.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.