OSHA Inspection: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICAS, INC.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Mar 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,975 · Current $5,975

Hazardous substances 81108111

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:  a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1 was exposed to a noise level of 91.5 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.  b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1 was exposed to a noise level of 88.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.  c) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 1, body flex area was exposed to a noise level of 87 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.  d) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 91.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.  e) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 88.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.  f) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 89.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Only one type of hearing protection was provided to employees on the floor, on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Mar 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):  a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1, was exposed to a noise level of 91.5 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.  b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1, was exposed to a noise level of 88.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.  c) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 1, body flex area, was exposed to a noise level of 87 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.  d) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 91.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.  e) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 88.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.  f) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level of 89.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. Noise training was not conducted, on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Mar 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,967 · Current $7,967

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:  a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. - In the wash room of building #1, employees manually pour Renoclean, classified as corrosive, into the wash tanks. Chemical splash resistant goggles were not provided, on or about 9/23/16.  b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. - In building 1, behind line 5, employees manually pump Renoclean, classified as corrosive, from the 55 gallon drums into five gallon buckets. Chemical splash resistant goggles were not provided, on or about 9/23/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,975 · Current $5,975

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2): An emergency action plan meeting the requirements of 1910.38, which designated certain employees to be the only employees authorized to use the available portable fire extinguishers and which required all other employees in the fire area to immediately evacuate the affected work area upon the sounding of the fire alarm, was not developed and implemented.    Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - The emergency action plan was not reviewed with each temporary employee as required by 1910.38(f)(1), on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Mar 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $10,864 · Current $10,864

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:   a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - In the washing department, tanks containing Renoclean classified as corrosive, were not labeled with the contents, on or about 9/23/16.  b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - Totes of chemical waste containing 20-30% Cell Soak 380 cleaner and 5-10% oil after processing were improperly labeled as a non-hazardous chemical, on or about 10/7/16.  c) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - Totes of chemical waste containing 2-3% Glycol Coolants and 2-3% oils after processing were improperly labeled as a non-hazardous chemical, on or about 10/7/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $11,950 · Current $11,950

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers did not 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 physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area and chemical-specific information was not always available through labels and material safety data sheets    a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - Employees handled hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, Renoclean classified as corrosive, Yumate and Yuamax metal working fluids, EPS Worm Gear Grease, metals and Cell Soak 380 cleaner. Effective information and training on the hazards related to the hazardous materials employees were working with had not been conducted for some of the employees, on or about 9/8/16.    b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - Temporary employees handled hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, Renoclean classified as corrosive, Yumate and Yuamax metal working fluids, EPS Worm Gear Grease, metals and Cell Soak 380 cleaner. Effective information and training on the hazards related to the hazardous materials employees were working with had not been conducted for some of the temporary employees at the site, on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Sep 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv): Employees had not been provided with GHS 2012 training including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system to be used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:    Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - Employees handled hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to,  Renoclean classified as corrosive, Yumate and Yuamax metal working fluids, EPS Worm Gear Grease, metals and Cell Soak 380 cleaner. Training under the globally harmonized system (GHS) had not been conducted for some of the employees, on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Oct 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $119,503 · Current $12,675 Reduced

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) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1, was exposed to a noise level at a time-weighted average (TWA) of  91.5 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 410 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 70 minutes. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.    b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 2, staking line #1,  was exposed to a noise level at time-weighted average (TWA) of 88.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 408 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 72 minutes. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.    c) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in building 1, body flex area, was exposed to a noise level at time-weighted average (TWA) of 87 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 443 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 37 minutes. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.    d) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - An employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level at time-weighted average (TWA) of 91.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 393 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 87 minutes.. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.    e) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to at noise level a time-weighted average (TWA) of 88.9 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 391 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 89 minutes. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.    f) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Monroe, GA - A temporary employee working in the wash room of building 1, was exposed to a noise level at time-weighted average (TWA) of  89.3 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived by a sample taken over a 396 minute period. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 84 minutes. An audiometric testing program was not established, on or about 9/8/16.

Issued

Feb 23, 2017

Abate by

Mar 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $39,837 · Current $93,251

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. - In the wash room of building 1, employees manually pour Renoclean, classified as corrosive, into the wash tanks. An emergency eye wash station was not provided in the washroom in the event of a splash to the eyes, on or about 9/23/16.    b) Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. - In building 1, behind line 5, employees manually pump Renoclean, classified as corrosive, into five gallon buckets. An emergency eye wash station was not provided in the immediate area in the event of a splash to the eyes, on or about 9/23/16.    Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1063552, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 10/15/15, with respect to a workplace located at 1000 Unisia Dr., Monroe, GA.