OSHA Inspection: FIBERTEC PERFORMANCE, LLC

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

Jun 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): When the employer had assessed the workplace and determined that hazards were present, the employer did not select and/or use the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the hazards identified:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not assess the workplace hazards to determine what hazards were present and select and require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment when working around chemicals associated with the manufacture of fiberglass components.  The employees used MEK-P as a catalyst in the fiberglass manufacturing process without appropriate hand and eye protection.  This condition exposed the employees to the risk of eye and skin damage due to coming into contact with this corrosive chemical.      Abatement Note:  When then employer has determined that hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:       (1)        Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;       (2)        Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and,       (3)        Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.       (4)        The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.       (5)        Defective and damaged equipment. Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.       (6)        The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE. Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:       (a)        When PPE is necessary;       (b)        What PPE is necessary;       (c)        How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE;       (d)       The limitations of the PPE; and,       (7)        Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training specified in paragraph (1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.       (8)        When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (2) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:       (a)        Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or       (b)        Changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete; or       (c)        Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.       (9)        The employer shall verify that each affected employee has received and understood the required training through a written certification that contains the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of training, and that identifies the subject of the certification.       (10)      Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section apply only to 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, and 1910.138. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section do not apply to 1910.134 and 1910.137.       Note: Non-mandatory Appendix B contains an example of procedures that would comply with the requirement for a hazard assessment.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:      (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not develop a written hazard communication program which at least described how the criteria specified for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also included a hazardous chemicals list and methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, had not been developed for employee exposures, such as but not limited, to the following:       (1)        Acetone;     (2)        MEK-P; and;  (3)        Fiberglass Resins

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein, such as but not limited to:     (1)  Secondary bottle of MEK-P

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Chemical manufacturers and importers shall obtain or develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Employers shall have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.  (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015,  The employer did not have a safety data sheets for the following products which contain hazardous chemicals:  (1)Chem lease R&B Ez Release Agent primer; (2)Chem lease MPP 2180-Mold primer; (3)Chem lease 15 sealer Ez; (4)Surface primer 707-002 Gray Surface primer; (5)Polycor 945YA058; (6)Polycor 944B025; (7)Altek H800-ACA-30 Resin (8)Gel Coat 944 WJ480 (9)MEK-P (10)Acetone

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.     Abatement Note:     (a)        Employees shall be informed of:     (1)        Any operation in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and,     (2)        The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and material safety data sheets required by this section.     (b)        Employee training shall include at least:     (1)        Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);     (2)        The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;     (3)        The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used;     (4)        The details of the hazardous communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and the material safety data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

Jun 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirator(s) were necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirator(s) were required by the employer:       (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not have a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section.  The program was not established and implemented whenever respirators were required by the employer, in that the employer required the use of a half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator during spray operations of ProBlock.  This hazard exposed the employee to the lack of knowledge of proper respirator use.        Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:       (1)        Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;       (2)        Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;       (3)        Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;       (4)        Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;       (5)        Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;       (6)        Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;       (7)        Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;       (8)        Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and       (9)        Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 that was commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not designate a program administrator who was qualified by appropriate training or experience that was commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness, when SAS half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator were required by the employer while conducting gel coat spraying operations using materials including but not limited to:     (1)PolyCor fiberglass gel coating chemicals.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

Jun 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace:       (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or prior to December 3, 2015, the employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace.  Three employees worked in the main shop manufacturing fiberglass components.  The employer applies gel coat spraying and fiberglass operations to make racing car hoods, ram air hoods, and fan shrouds.  The employer had not evaluated employee exposure to styrene associated with the gel coating, fiberglass fibers, or Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (total dust).  This condition exposed the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On December 3, 2015, the employer had not provided medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to use respirators, before the employees used the respirator. The employees conducted fiberglass component manufacturing while wearing SAS half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator with SAS OV filters. This hazard exposed the employee to health hazards of using a respirator unsafely.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):  The employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece was used, and at least annually thereafter:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, when required by the employer, the employer did not ensure that the employee using an SAS half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirators, whenever a different respirator face-piece was used, and at least annually thereafter.  This hazard exposed the employee to the lack of knowledge of proper respirator use.

Issued

May 4, 2016

Abate by

May 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1):  The employer did not ensure that respirators were cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of this section, according to the intervals as specified in subparagraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iv), or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures were of equivalent effectiveness:     (a)Fibertec Performance, LLC @ 39778 Hwy 34, Woonsocket, SD 57385: On or about December 3, 2015, the employer did not ensure that the SAS half-face negative pressure, air-purifying respirators used while conducting fiberglass operations were cleaned and disinfected in that the respirators had residue in the face-piece itself.      Abatement Note:  Respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of this section, according to the intervals as specified in subparagraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(iv).