OSHA Inspection: WORLDWIDE STEEL WORKS, INC.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Jun 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(2)(ii): The concentration of respirable dust or fume in the breathing zone of the abrasive-blasting operator or any other worker was not kept below the levels specified in 1910.1000.       a.  On or about 11/10/2016, at the yard, an abrasive blasting employees personal 8-hour time-weighted average (8-Hr TWA) exposure to respirable dust containing 27.8% Crystalline Silica Quartz was 0.67 mg/m3.  This exceeded the OSHA 8-Hr TWA PEL of 0.335 mg/m3 for respirable dust containing 27.8% Crystalline Silica Quartz by 2 times.  The personal air monitoring consisted of two samples collected during a 109 minute sampling period on 11/10/2016.  The remaining un-sampled time of 371 minutes was included in the 8-Hr TWA as a zero exposure period.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Jun 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to Quartz (Respirable) in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 10 mg/m3 divided by %SiO2 + 2 listed in Table Z-3:       a.  On or about 11/10/2016, at the yard, an abrasive blasting employees personal 8-hour time-weighted average (8-Hr TWA) exposure to respirable dust containing 27.8% Crystalline Silica Quartz was 0.67 mg/m3.  This exceeded the OSHA 8-Hr TWA PEL of 0.335 mg/m3 for respirable dust containing 27.8% Crystalline Silica Quartz by 2 times.  The personal air monitoring consisted of two samples collected during a 109 minute sampling period on 11/10/2016.  The remaining un-sampled time of 371 minutes was included in the 8-Hr TWA as a zero exposure period.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

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.  On or about November 10, 2016, at the yard, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not first determined and implemented for sand abrasive blasting which includes but is not limited to the following:      1.  Substitute with crystalline silica free abrasive blasting agents  2.  Conduct abrasive blasting inside a HEPA filtered ventilated enclosure  3.  Rotate the part being blasted to minimize overhead abrasive blasting.     An employee who conducted sand abrasive blasting was exposed to respirable dust containing 27.8% crystalline silica in excess of the OSHA PEL for respirable dust containing 27.8% crystalline silica.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Jun 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:       a.  On or about November 10, 2016, at the yard, feasible administrative noise controls including, but not limited to employee job rotation, were not utilized for abrasive blasting.  An employee was exposed to work place noise at a 8-hr TWA of 108.4 dBA, or equivalently a noise dose of 1292%.  The noise monitoring result was derived from a personal sampling time of 123 minutes and a non-sampled time of 357 minutes, was assumed to be a zero noise exposure period.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Jun 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:      a.  On or about November 10, 2016, at the yard, an audiometric testing program was not established for abrasive blasting employees exposed to workplace noise in excess of an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA or equivalently a noise dose of 50%.  An abrasive blasting employee was exposed to an 8-hr TWA of 108.5 dBA, or equivalently a noise dose of 1293%.  The noise monitoring result was derived from a personal sampling time of 123 minutes and a non-sampled time of 357 minutes, was assumed to be a zero noise exposure period.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,387 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(vi): The written program did not contain procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators:       a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, the written respiratory protection program did not include procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for abrasive blasting respirators which used supplied air. Employees are exposed to gas, vapor, and dust hazards during abrasive blasting.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016 and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure air conditioners for Bullard abrasive blasting respirators were appropriate to use and in accordance with the NIOSH respirator certification for Bullard abrasive blasting respirators. Employees are exposed to gas, vapor, and dust hazards during abrasive blasting.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.  On or about August 18, 2016, and at times prior to, at the yard, there was no tag containing the most recent airline filter change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform airline filter changes to ensure breathing air quality for abrasive blasting respirators worn by employees.  Employees are exposed to gas, vapor, and dust hazards during abrasive blasting.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): Oil lubricated compressor(s) used to supply breathing air did not have a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm(s) or both:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016, and at times prior to, a high temperature alarm or/and a carbon monoxide alarm were not provided on an oil-lubricated air compressor that supplied breathing air to abrasive blasting respirators worn by employees.  Employees are exposed to gas, vapor, and dust hazards during abrasive blasting.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(v): The employer did not ensure that each user could demonstrate knowledge of the procedures for respirator maintenance and storage:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, employees did not demonstrate knowledge of adequate procedures for storage of airline abrasive blasting respirators.  Employees wore airline abrasive blasting respirators during blasting operations and were exposed to hazardous chemicals.      b.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, employees did not demonstrate knowledge of adequate procedures for change out of organic vapor respirator cartridges installed on elastomeric half mask respirators.   Employees wore half mask respirators with organic vapor respirator cartridges during spray painting operations and were exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,500

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2): The employer did not include the basis for his the change schedule in the respirator program:       a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, the employer did not describe in the written respiratory protection program the information and data relied upon and the basis for the respirator cartridge change schedule and the basis for reliance on the data.  Employees wore half mask respirators with organic vapor respirator cartridges during spray painting operations which exposes employees to hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

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:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, the employer allowed tight fitting half mask respirators to be worn by employees who had facial hair that came between sealing surface of the respirator facepiece and the face. An employee was required to wear a respirator during spray painting which exposed them to hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, the employer did not ensure abrasive blasting respirators were protected from iron dust contamination while being stored on wall hooks or stored on a chop saw inside a metal conex container.  Employees are exposed to hazardous dust from abrasive blasting.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,387 · Current $2,996 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.169(a)(2)(i): Air receivers were not constructed in accordance with the 1968 edition of the A.S.M.E. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, which is incorporated by reference as specified in 1910.6:       a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, an air receiver did not have markings to denote it met the A.S.M.E. standard. The air receiver was installed between an air compressor and a spray paint pot which exposes employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Mar 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.169(b)(3)(i): Compressed air receiver(s) were not equipped with indicating pressure gage(s) and one or more spring loaded safety valves:    a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, an air receiver was not equipped with an indicating pressure gage and a spring-loaded safety valve.  The air receiver was installed between an air compressor and a spray paint pot which exposes employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Apr 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):       a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, a written hazard assessment for personal protective equipment was not developed for employees who did abrasive blasting and applied gunite which exposes employees to hazards including, but not limited to crystalline silica and struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 10, 2017

Abate by

Apr 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.     a.  On or about August 18, 2016, at the yard, an employee was not required to wear chemical resistant gloves during spray painting and was exposed to skin hand contact with hazardous chemicals