OSHA Inspection: POWDERTEK LLC

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $720.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    (a) PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO: On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent.  Noise monitoring conducted on 3/3/16, found one employee conducting abrasive blasting with a Sandstorm Model 7N75 for 1 hour at a dose of 212%. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.    Abatement Note:  A Hearing Conservation Program shall consist of:  (1) Development and implementation of a noise monitoring program;  (2) The institution of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls for excessive noise,  (3) Notification of employees who are exposed to noise doses in excess of the action level;   (4) Baseline audiogram within six months of exposure at or above the action level with annual follow-up audiogram for purposes of tracking changes in employee hearing acuity;  (5) Providing a variety of hearing protection and requiring its use where employees are exposed to noise above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 100% dose, where employees are exposed to noise above the Action Limit (AL) of 50% dose and have not received a baseline audiogram or has experienced a standard threshold shift;   (6) Annual training with regards to effects of noise upon hearing, use of hearing protection, and the purpose of the audiometric testing; and,  (7) Retention of all records including audiometric testing results and noise monitoring results.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1200.00 · Current $720.00 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:    (a)   PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO:  On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace a site specific written hazard communication program.  Employees are potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not limited to the following:     1) Cardinal C-Series Polyester Powder Coating,  2) Prismatic Powder Coating A Series,  3) Prismatic Powder Coating E Series,  4) Prismatic Powder Coating H Series,  5) Nickel Slag

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v):  (a)   PowderTek LLC at 739 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO:  On and before February 28, 2016, 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 chemicals contained within. Employees were potentially exposed to numerous unlabeled hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Cardinal C-Series Polyester Powder Coating, Prismatic Powder Coating A Series, Prismatic Powder Coating E Series, and Prismatic Powder Coating H Series. This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)   PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO:  On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.  Employees did not know the hazards of the chemicals in their work areas. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1600.00 · Current $960.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(b): Abrasive blast cleaning nozzle(s) were not equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually:    (a) PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Drive, Grand Junction, CO: On and before February 28, 2016, an abrasive blast cleaning nozzle was not equipped with an operation valve which had to be held open manually during cleaning in the outdoor blasting enclosure. This condition potentially exposed employees to struck-by hazards from the nozzle and flexible hose assembly, if the nozzle was accidently released from the operators hand under high pressure.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:    (a)   PowderTek LLC at 329 Scarlett Dr, Grand Junction, CO:  On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not ensure that the workplace was assessed to determine if hazards were present which would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.  The employer did not determine if foot, head, hand, eye, and/or face protection were required when working throughout the facility.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-08-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  (a) PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO: On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was provided with the information contained in Appendix D to this section when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible.  The employer provided Seidman Associate N95 Particulate Respirators (#RS-900-N95) for voluntary use during clean up following abrasive blasting.  This condition exposed the employees to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

2016-07-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-09-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:       (a) PowderTek LLC at 738 Scarlet Dr, Grand Junction, CO: On and before February 28, 2016, the employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace associated with employees conducting abrasive blasting with a Sandstorm Model 7N75. This condition potentially exposed employees to respiratory hazards, including, but not limited to, silica and particulates.