OSHA Inspection: GARTNER COATINGS, INC.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Sep 26, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,240 · Current $2,120 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(iv): Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters were not protected with approved automatic sprinklers:    (a)  The Powder Coating Booth was not equipped with sprinklers.  Employees spray combustible powder coatings within the booth.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,240 · Current $2,120 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(e)(2): The quantity of flammable liquids kept in the vicinity of spraying operations exceeded a supply for 1 day or one shift:    (a)  Two five-gallon containers of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and one five-gallon container of waste paint were stored inside Booth #1.    (b)  Two five-gallon containers of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and one five-gallon container of waste paint were stored inside Booth #2.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(5): Solvents with a flashpoint of not less than 100 deg. F. were used for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment:  (a)  in Booth #1, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) was used for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment.  The flashpoint of MEK is 16 degrees F.  (b)  in Booth #2, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) was used for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment.  The flashpoint of MEK is 16 degrees F.  (c)  in Booth #3, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) was used for cleaning spray nozzles and auxiliary equipment.  The flashpoint of MEK is 16 degrees F.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,300 · Current $2,650 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv): The employer did not ensure that compressors used to supply breathing air to respirators were constructed and situated so as to have a tag maintained at the compressor containing the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change:    (a)  In building #1, compressors were not tagged with the most recent change date and signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change.    (b)  In building #3, compressors were not tagged with the most recent change date and signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $450 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    (a)  In Blast Booth #1, an abrasive blaster had not received the annual audiogram.  The abrasive blaster was exposed to 91.0 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 90 minutes on May 20, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 390 minutes.    (a)  In Blast Booth #1, an abrasive blaster had not received the annual audiogram.  The abrasive blaster was exposed to 97.4 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 218 minutes on June 30, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 262 minutes.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Feb 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,059 · Current $530 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9030

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of particulate not otherwise regulated (respirable fraction) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 5.0 milligrams per cubic meter:    (a)  In the Powder Coating Booth, where an employee performing powder coating activities was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 10.6 milligrams per cubic meter, 2.1 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable dust of 5 milligrams per cubic meter.  Sampling was conducted for 212 minutes on June 30, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 268 minutes.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Sep 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(i): The average air speed over the open face of the paint spray booth was less than 100 linear feet per minute:  (a)  In the Powder Coating Booth, the average air speed over the open face to the paint spray booth was less than 5 linear feet per minute.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Feb 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(b)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of crystalline silica listed in Table Z-2 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average:  (a)  In Blast Booth #1, where an employee performing abrasive blasting with Garnet was exposed to respirable dust containing 1.6% crystalline quartz at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 5.5 milligrams per cubic meter.  The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable dust containing 1.6% crystalline quartz is 2.797 milligrams per cubic meter.  The employee's exposure was 1.9 times the PEL.  Sampling was conducted for 267 minutes on May 23, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 213 minutes.

Issued

Aug 22, 2016

Abate by

Feb 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90109130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  (a)  In the Powder Coating Booth, where an employee performing powder coating activities was exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 10.6 milligrams per cubic meter, 2.1 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable dust of 5 milligrams per cubic meter.  Sampling was conducted for 212 minutes on June 30, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 268 minutes.  (b)  In Blast Booth #1, where an employee performing abrasive blasting with Garnet was exposed to respirable dust containing 1.6% crystalline quartz at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 5.5 milligrams per cubic meter.  The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable dust containing 1.6% crystalline quartz is 2.797 milligrams per cubic meter.  The employee's exposure was 1.9 times the PEL.  Sampling was conducted for 267 minutes on May 23, 2016. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 213 minutes.