OSHA Inspection: PROFINERS INC.

Issued

Apr 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,360 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i):  Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not fully enclosed by guards conforming to requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):      a) Profiners - On or about March 23, 2016, employees walking and working around the circulating dryer were exposed to in-running nip point hazards of a rotating power transmission belt used to power the turning mechanism for the dryer (incinerator).     No abatement documentation required. Employer corrected during inspection.

Issued

Apr 28, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):   a) Profiners - On or about March 23, 2016, employees walking and working around the circulating dryer were exposed to in-running nip point hazards from rotating pulleys of a power transmission device used to power the turning mechanism for the dryer (incinerator).   No abatement documentation required. Employer corrected during inspection.

Issued

Apr 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

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) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees work with acids and various metals such as lead, 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.  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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees work with acids and various metals such as lead, and employees were not trained on safety data/pictograms on containers and safety data sheets, including the order of information and how employees could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.  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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7):   The alternative method in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers did not identify the container to which it is applicable and did not convey the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6):  a) Profiners - Fire Assay Room - On or about February 3, 2016, employees dip metal samples into a small stationary acid bath container, and the container was not labeled either directly or with a placard adjacent to the container to identify the chemical and hazards as required by (f)(6) of this section.   b) Profiners - Digestion Area - On or about February 3, 2016, employees use two 15 gallon polyethylene stationary holding containers, which contain nitric and hydrochloric acid, to fill smaller containers, and the 15 gallon containers were not labeled either directly or with a placard adjacent to the container to identify the chemical and hazards as required by (f)(6) 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.

Issued

Apr 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(i): Employee(s) working in an area where there is potential exposure to airborne lead at any level were not informed of the content of Appendices A and B of 29 CFR 1910.1025  a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, Employees fire assayer is exposed to airborne lead at an 8 hour time weighted average exposure of 2.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air.  This exposure occurred over a 285 minute sampling period on March 23, 2016.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 195 minutes not sample.  Employees were not informed 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.

Issued

Apr 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:      a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, an employee was not utilizing protective equipment such as chemical resistant aprons, while handling corrosive acids exposing the employee to skin burns.     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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):      a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were exposed to chemical burns to the skin and eyes associated with the use of hydrochloric and nitric acids, and the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards necessitated the use of personal protective equipment, such as chemical resistant aprons and goggles.     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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace  evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:    a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were exposed to chemical burns to the skin and eyes associated with the use of hydrochloric and nitric acids, and the employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done.    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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment:      a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees handle corrosive acids and the employer did not provide training on what personal protective equipment was necessary to protect them during this work, nor how to properly use the equipment.    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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 13, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:    a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, an employee was not utilizing protective equipment such as a chemical splash shield, while dispensing and  handling corrosive acids exposing the employee to skin and eye burns.     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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

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)  Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to  protect them from metal fume and acid gas, and the employer had not provided a medical evaluation to ensure that the employee was medically able to wear a respirator.    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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

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)  Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to  protect them from metal fume and acid gas, and the employer did not provide a proper fit test to ensure that the respirator properly protected the employee from health 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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

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:     a)  Profiners -On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to protect  them from metal fume and acid gas, and employees were permitted to have facial hair which came between the sealing surface of the respirator and the face, exposing employee to respiratory hazards from an improperly used respirator.    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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): Respirators were not cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of 29 CFR 1910.134 or equivalent procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer:    a)  Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to   protect them from metal fume and acid gas, and employees were not cleaning or disinfecting their respirators adequately.     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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight,  extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or were not packed or stored to prevent deformation  of the facepiece and exhalation valve:       a)  Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to  protect them from metal fume and acid gas, and employees were not storing their respirators in a clean environment which would protect them from contamination and damaging chemicals.     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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1430159118602240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    a)  Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees were required to wear a half-face elastomeric respirator to  protect them from metal fume and acid gas, and the employer did not provided employee training on the respirator's  limitations as well as on methods of cleaning, maintenance, and fit testing, exposing employee to health 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 28, 2016

Abate by

May 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    a) Profiners - On or about February 3, 2016, employees operate various pieces of equipment to melt and heat metals, where employees were provided fire extinguishers to use during incipient stage fire fighting, and the employer did not provide an educational program 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 NOTE: By this date the employer must either correct the alleged violation or implement a Fire Safety Policy, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and (b) which included the evacuation requirement of 29 CFR 1910.157(b).