OSHA Inspection: TECH-AIR, INCORPORATED

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    PRODUCTION AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer had not completed an assessment of each operation to determine the hazards present that would require use of PPE.  Such operations include, but are not limited to: painting, welding, cutting, and bending galvanized steel.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that employees wearing prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses:    PRODUCTION AREAS:    On, or about, March 24, 2016, an employee who operated press brakes on a daily basis was not provided with safety glasses.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees hands were exposed to hazardous condition(s)    PRODUCTION AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, employees were not required to wear gloves to protect their hands from lacerations and other injuries when handling sheet metal.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    WELDING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer had not continued implementation of their written respiratory protection program.  According to the Program, tight-fitting elastomeric respirators were required to be worn when welding galvanized steel and painting with 2-part epoxy paints while tight-fitting particulate respirators were required during grinding, wood cutting, and general purpose spray painting.  The company employed full time and temporary workers who were required to wear respirators.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(1): Evaluations of the workplace were not conducted to ensure the written respiratory protection program was being effectively implemented:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the company had not reviewed work practices and procedures to determine the effectiveness of the respiratory protection program.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $960 Reduced

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:    WELDING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer did not ensure that employees who were required to wear tight-fitting were evaluated medically to determine whether or not they were healthy enough to wear their respirators.  Respirator use was required of employees who were involved in welding, painting with 2-part epoxy paint, cutting wood and steel, and general purpose painting.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, employees had not been fit-tested to ensure that the respirators they had been assigned fit properly.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, employees who were welding on galvanized steel were observed to be wearing tight-fitting elastomeric respirators without being clean-shaven.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer did not provide respirator training to employees who were required to use respirators while welding and/or painting.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5): Respiratory protection retraining was not conducted annually:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, employees did not receive annual retraining pertaining to respirator use.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(6)(ii): Indoors, welding or cutting involving zinc-bearing base or filler metals coated with zinc-bearing materials was not done in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.252(c)(3):    WELDING AREAS    On or about April 11, 2016, employees were instructed to weld galvanized steel without adequate ventilation.  Each permanent welding station was equipped with a freely movable hood.  The air flow measured at each hood was less than 100 linear feet.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 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:    PRODUCTION AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer stated that the written Hazard Communication Program had not been updated since 2013.  Hazardous chemicals that employees use or are exposed to at the facility include, but are not limited to: flammable paints and welding fumes from welding galvanized steel.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 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:    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about April 11, 2016, employees had not received training pertinent to the hazardous chemicals they would be working with or otherwise potentially exposed.  Hazardous chemicals used at the facility include, but are not limited to: flammable paints, compressed gases, and welding fumes from welding galvanized steel.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 4, 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 to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and to conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:    WELDING AND PAINTING AREAS:    On or about April 11, 2016, the employer had not identified a qualified person to be program administrator for the Respiratory Protection Program.

Issued

Aug 1, 2016

Abate by

Nov 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet.    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about April 25, 2016, the employer provided a Hazard Communication Program that did not include an inventory of the hazardous chemicals used at the facility.  Hazardous chemicals that employees use or are exposed to include, but are not limited to: flammable paints and welding fumes from welding galvanized steel.