OSHA Inspection: SUNFIELD, INC.

Issued

Jun 29, 2016

Abate by

Aug 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,960 · Current $2,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall 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 chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.    a. On or about March 14, 2016, the employer failed to provide hazard communication for employees at the time of their initial assignment to their work area. Temporary employees are assigned to work areas, such as welding machine operators in the Weld side  area, without any information or training on the hazardous chemicals related to welding operations such as iron oxide, copper and manganese fume. Inhalation hazards and health factors associated with this chemicals include central nervous system and brain effects, or manganism, metal fume fever, upper respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary siderosis (benign pneumoconiosis.)

Issued

Jun 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer shall identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; this evaluation shall include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form. Where the employer cannot identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer shall consider the atmosphere to be IDLH.  On or about March 14, 2016, the employer failed to evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace following the mechanical failure of the capture ventilation system that controls welding machine operator welding fume exposures to determine levels of respiratory protection required under this standard. In addition, the employer did not take actions that considered the atmosphere to be IDLH, as respiratory protection was not required for use and no form of respiratory protection was available for use with an IDLH level of protection.