OSHA Inspection: BIRMINGHAM RAIL & LOCOMOTIVE CO., INC.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2499.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields:    (a)  On or about December 07, 2015 - Back Building, welding screens were not installed at the Frog relay reconditioning area adjacent to the aisle to protect employees walking and working in areas such as the Turnout area.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-09-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3430.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

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:    (a) On or about 12/10/15 - Back building, an employee reconditioning frog relays was exposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter, approximately  1.74 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee was sampled for 420 minutes during one shift on 12/10/15.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 60 minutes.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-09-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

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:  (a) On or about 12/10/15 - Back building, an employee reconditioning frog relays was exposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter, approximately 1.74  times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee was sampled for 420 minutes during one shift on 12/10/15.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 60 minutes.  Among other methods, one feasible method to control exposure include; 1.  Install mechanically powered local exhaust to remove dust and fume generated during grinding and welding.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-07-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(2): Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134, which covers each employee required to use a respirator:   (a) On or about 12/10/15 - The employer had not established a respiratory protection program and had not provided and required the employee(s) to utilize respiratory protection when exposure to hexavalent chromium exceed the PEL.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $3430.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):    (a) On or about 12/07/15 -  at the site, the employer had not determined the employee exposure to chromium (VI) during work processes such as welding and grinding.  A total of two employees reconditioning frog relays were exposed to hexavalent chromium.  One employee was exposed at a level of 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter, approximately  1.74 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee was sampled for 420 minutes during one shift on 12/10/15.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 60 minutes.  A second employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a level of 1.6 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee was sampled for 440 minutes on 12/10/15.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 40 minutes.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) was, or could reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit:  (a) On or about 12/10/15 - Back building, a regulated area had not been established where airborne exposure levels of chromium (VI) exceeded the PEL.  An employee reconditioning frog relays was exposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter, approximately 1.74  times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.  The employee was sampled for 420 minutes during one shift on 12/10/15.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 60 minutes.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2499.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 06890691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that employees removed all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium (VI) exposure, whichever came first:    (a) On or about 12/10/15 - site, employees were not required to remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with Cr(VI) at the completion of work shifts or tasks.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 06890691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(1): The employer did not provide change rooms, in conformance with the Sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1910.141, for employees who were required to change their clothes to use protective clothing and equipment for chromium (VI) exposures:  (a) On or about 12/10/15 - site, change rooms were not provided where required to control Cr(VI) exposure.  Employees reconditioning frog switch relays were exposed to skin contact with Chromium (VI).

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2499.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 06890691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for all employees who were or could be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year:    (a) On or about 12/10/15 - site, an employee grinding and welding to recondition frog relays was exposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3570.00 · Current $2499.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0691

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1): The employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there was exposure to chromium (VI) were provided with information and training as required by the Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200:    (a)  On or about 12/7/15, the employer had not provided hazard communication training on chromium (VI)  to employees exposed during reconditioning of frog switch relays.  The employees training should include potential exposure activities as well as engineering and work practices that have been implemented.

Issued

2016-05-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $595.00 · Current $417.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.30(a): Employer did not maintain separate OSHA 300 Logs for each establishment that is expected to be in operation for one year or longer:    (a)  On or about 12/7/15 - Facility, the OSHA 300 log for 2014 applicable to the 1015 15th Ave. North, Bessemer site, included injury and illness incidents that occurred at the employer's other establishment.