OSHA Inspection: TENAX FINISHING PRODUCTS CO.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fire hazards from use and storage of flammable liquids.    a) Production/storage room    A production room door was not self closing. The door lead to the lab/office area and staircase to second floor offices.    Flammable liquids such as, but not limited to, 2-propanol, lacquer thinner and triethylamine were used in the production area and stored on an adjoining platform.      Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.    b) Production/storage room    Flammable liquids such as, but not limited to, 2-propanol, lacquer thinner and triethylamine were stored in the same room as the manufacturing process.       Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,672 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employee(s) were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:    a)  Production building, north side, bottom of ramp.    The exit door had two sliding bolts instead of a door handle, restricting worker egress in the case of fire or other emergency.    Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.      b)  Production building,  west side, off platform.    The exit door had sliding bolts at the top and bottom, restricting worker egress in the case of fire or other emergency.    Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,672 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":    a)  Production building, north side    An exit door at the bottom of a ramp had no exit sign.  Employees worked with flammable liquids to include 2-propanol, lacquer thinner and triethylamine during paint manufacturing operations.    Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,672

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:     a) Production building    The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program for paint mixers and helpers who voluntarily wore North half face negative pressure respirators with organic vapor cartridges.    Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 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) Production building  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to paint mixers and helpers who voluntarily wore North half face negative pressure respirators with organic vapor cartridges.  Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training annually and/or more often if necessary:  a) Production building  The employer did not provide annual respirator training to paint mixers and helpers who voluntarily wore North half face negative pressure respirators with organic vapor cartridges.  Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,672 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a) Production building    The shower did not supply water when tested during the inspection.  Employees used triethylamine, a corrosive (alkaline) liquid,  in manufacture of some paints.    Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.      b)  Production building    The eyewash was located in a corner of a restroom that was in a corner of the production facility.  To access the eyewash, workers  have to find their way between equipment to the restroom, enter the restroom and locate the eyewash in a far corner.  Employees used triethylamine, a corrosive (alkaline) liquid,  in manufacture of some paints.      Violation occurred on or about 3/10/16.

Issued

Jul 7, 2016

Abate by

Aug 23, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,672 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):    a)  Yard    A propane forklift with a worn drum grab was used to transport a 55 gallon drum of naphtha from the warehouse to the production building.  During transit, the drum slipped and fell on its side.    Violation occurred on or about 4/6/16.