OSHA Inspection: ELG UTICA ALLOYS (HARTFORD), INC.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,236 · Current $3,742 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    Shop Area    On or about 6/28/16, the employer did not implement a monitoring program for employees whose exposure exceeded the eight hour TWA of 85 dBA.  Employees working in the shop area on the following tasks had 8-hour-TWA noise exposures over 85 dBA when monitored for hearing conservation:       a. torch cutting:  90.9 dBA  b. washer: 86.3 dBA  c. gritblaster : 88.6 dBA  d. mechanical shears: 89 dBA

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $5,238 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(B): Unless a physician determines that the standard threshold shift is not work-related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the employer did not ensure, when a standard threshold shift occurs, that for employees already using hearing protectors, employees be refitted and retrained in the use of hearing protectors and provided with hearing protectors offering greater attenuation if necessary:    Shop Area        On or about 6/16/16, employees had experienced standard threshold shifts on their last audiogram. The employer was notified of the shift and the notification provided recommended re-test.  The employer failed to provide a re-test, re-fit for hearing protectors, or retraining to those employees affected.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $8,730 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(ii)(B): The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater and has experienced a standard threshold shift:    Shop Area    On or about 6/28/16, the employer did not require the use of hearing protectors by employees who worked in areas where the 8-hr TWA exceeded 85 dBA or those who experienced a standard threshold shift in their hearing on the employer provided audiogram.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,988 · Current $2,993 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:    Shop area    On or about 6/28/16, employees were not provided a selection of hearing protectors from which to choose.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,988 · Current $2,993 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:  Torch cutting booth;  On or about 6/28/16, an employee torch cutting titanium alloy had not been fit tested for his half-face, tight fitting air purifying respirator since 1/24/14.  The task was monitored that day and resulted in an over exposure for vanadium.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,988 · Current $2,993 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of vanadium listed in Table Z-1, Limits for Air Contaminants, in excess of the PEL without regards to respiratory protection.  Torch cutting booth;  On or about 6/28/16, an employee working in the torch cutting booth and cutting titanium alloy pieces was exposed to vanadium at a time-weighted average of 0.14 mg/m3, which is 140% of the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3. The employee was wearing a half-face respirator with a P100 filter, however the employee had not been fit tested since 1/24/14.

Issued

Sep 30, 2016

Abate by

Nov 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):  Torch Cutting Booth;  On or about 6/28/16, an employee torch cutting titanium alloy was exposed to vanadium at a time-weighted average of 0.14 mg/m3, which is 140% over the permissible exposure limit.  The task was performed in an exhausted booth, however the engineering and administrative controls used did not maintain employee exposure below the PEL, without use of respiratory protection.