OSHA Inspection: RCS CONSTRUCTION, LLC

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit routes were not kept free and unobstructed.  Materials or equipment were placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route:    RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not ensure that exit routes were kept unobstructed:  1) Bay 1 Area- Items such as but not limited to bundles of rebar in length of up to 40 ft and other materials were placed in front of the emergency exit door in a manner that obstructed the egress route, preventing prompt access to the emergency exit door.  2) Yard Area- Emergency exit route leading from the employee break room to the outside was blocked. Exit discharge in the yard area was blocked by items such as, but not limited to pallets, metal coils, and wire mesh used in fabrication of concrete reinforcing products.     Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":    RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not ensure that all of the doors designated as an emergency exits were marked with an "Exit" sign:  1) An exit door in the bay 1 area  2) An emergency access door leading to a break room  3) An exit door from the break room to the yard    Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,675 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): A continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in 29 CFR 1910.95 (c) through (n) was not instituted, when employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels:     RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not provide a continuing effective Hearing Conservation Program for employees involved in rebar fabrication and who were exposed to noise levels above 85 dBA. Employees working in the production area were exposed to continuous noise levels of 87.4 dBA (shearline operator), 87.7 dBA (double bender operator), 87.9 dBA (shearline helper), and 88.8 dBA (coil machine operator) for an 8-hour TWA,  which is equivalent to doses of  70.30%, 72.85%, 74.99% and 85.69% respectively. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 85 dBA. Sampling time was 470 minutes, 429 minutes, 464 minutes and 453 minutes respectively.  Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.    Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): A representative monitoring program was not developed and implemented when information indicated that an employee's exposure may equal or exceed and 8 hour time weighted average of 85 dBA:   RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not monitor noise exposure for the employees who were involved in rebar fabrication and who were exposed to noise levels above the Action Level (AL) for eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 dBA. Employees working in the production area were exposed to continuous noise levels of 87.4 dBA (shearline operator), 87.7 dBA (double bender operator), 87.9 dBA (shearline helper), and 88.8 dBA (coil machine operator) for an 8-hour TWA,  which is equivalent to doses of  70.30%, 72.85%, 74.99% and 85.69% respectively. Sampling time was 470 minutes, 429 minutes, 464 minutes and 453 minutes respectively.  Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:   RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for employees involved in rebar fabrication and who were exposed to noise levels above the Action Level (AL) for eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 dBA. Employees working in the production area were exposed to continuous noise levels of 87.4 dBA (shearline operator), 87.7 dBA (double bender operator), 87.9 dBA (shearline helper), and 88.8 dBA (coil machine operator) for an 8-hour TWA,  which is equivalent to doses of  70.30%, 72.85%, 74.99% and 85.69% respectively. Sampling time was 470 minutes, 429 minutes, 464 minutes and 453 minutes respectively.  Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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:  RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not provide training for employees involved in rebar fabrication and who were exposed to noise levels above the Action Level (AL) for eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85dBA. Employees working in the production area were exposed to continuous noise levels of 87.4 dBA (shearline operator), 87.7 dBA (double bender operator), 87.9 dBA (shearline helper), and 88.8 dBA (coil machine operator) for an 8-hour TWA,  which is equivalent to doses of  70.30%, 72.85%, 74.99% and 85.69% respectively. Sampling time was 470 minutes, 429 minutes, 464 minutes and 453 minutes respectively.  Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 10, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(f)(2)(i): LP-Gas Containers were not stored in a manner to minimize exposure to excessive temperature rise, physical damage, or tampering by unauthorized persons.    RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not ensure that propane fuel cylinders were stored in a manner to minimize physical damage or tampering by unauthorized personnel:    1) The employer placed and stored 100 pound propane fuel cylinders used for portable heaters, unrestrained in a manner which did not protect the cylinders from physical damage or tampering by unauthorized personnel.   2) The employer placed and stored 33 pound propane fuel cylinders used for forklifts in a manner which did not protect the cylinders from physical damage. The propane cylinder cage was placed at the entryway where trucks can strike them while being loaded and unloaded and where forklifts are operated.    Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(f)(4)(i): The employer stored LP-Gas in a quantity exceeding 300 pounds (approximately 2550 cubic feet in vapor form) inside of a building:    RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer stored propane forklift fuel cylinders and propane heater fuel cylinders inside the building.  Storage area had eleven 33-pound fuel cylinders used for forklift and one 110 pound fuel cylinder used for portable heaters exceeding 300 pounds total weight.    Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.      RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer authorized employees to operate powered industrial equipment, which included, but was not limited to a Komatsu Electric Forklift and CombiLift Forklift without providing powered industrial equipment training that included a combination of formal instruction, practical training, and a performance evaluation prior to operating the forklift.       Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):      RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer authorized the use of forklift that had visible defects and did not remove that forklift from service.  Employees operated a Komatsu electric forklift with a visibly damaged overhead guard/protective cage that was taped where the cage had cracked.      Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(c)(3)(i): All splices and joints and the free ends of conductors were not covered with an insulation equivalent to that of the conductors or with an insulating device identified for the purpose    RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer authorized repair and/or splicing of power cords of manufacturing equipment that were not covered with an insulation equivalent to that of the conductor manufacturer.  Employees used manufacturing equipment on a daily basis that had electrical connections modified and spliced.  1) Pedal controlling double bender (Schnell)   2) Portable heater (Dyna-Glo)    Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)(3): Each cord set, attachment cap, plug, and receptacle of cord sets, and any equipment connected by cord and plug were not visually inspected before use for external defects, such as deformed or missing pins or insulation damage, and for indications of possible internal damage, and equipment found damaged or defective was not removed from use until repaired:  RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not inspect flexible cords for damage prior to use and did not remove from use any damaged cord. Employees engaged in fabrication of rebar building products used flexible cords that were missing grounding pins and had damaged cable shielding: 1) Portable heater had missing grounding pins 2) Cables supplying power to double bender had damaged cable shielding  Condition observed or nor about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,100 Reduced

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:     RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program which included information and training on the hazards of the chemicals used on a daily basis. Employees engaged in fabrication of rebar products used chemicals such as, but not limited to propane and spray paints.     Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.  RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not provide and maintain Safety Data Sheets for each hazardous chemical used on site.  Employees engaged in manufacturing of rebar building products used hazardous chemicals, that included, but were not limited to propane and spray paints (Aervoe), on a daily basis.   Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The employer did not provide hazardous chemical training.  Employees, engaged in the fabrication of rebar building products, were not provided with information and training on hazards associated with chemicals, that included, but were not limited to, propane and spray paints.   Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016

Issued

Jul 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 31, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Where the employer provided respirators for employees to use voluntarily, the employer did not provide the respirator users with the information in Appendix D of this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirator When Not Required Under the Standard"):   RCS Construction, LLC/Hillside, NJ- Production Area: The Employer did not provide employees, voluntarily wearing filtering facepiece respirators such as, but not limited to Gerson N95, with the information contained in Appendix D of this section (Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard).      Condition observed on or about February 11, 2016.