OSHA Inspection: A&B PROCESS SYSTEMS, INC.

Issued

Mar 27, 2017

Abate by

Jul 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $9,054

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact:    On or about December 14, 2016, the employer did not provide personal fall protection to Welder/Fabricator employees who were exposed to falls of approximately seven (7) feet above the concrete ground level. Employees were exposed to falls without personal fall protection when accessing the manway of the 500 gallon Brine Tanks by stepping on and off an eight (8) foot A-frame ladder to and from the convex top of the Brine Tanks.

Issued

Mar 27, 2017

Abate by

May 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(4)(iv):  Lifelines. Where a welder must enter a confined space through a manhole or other small opening, means shall be provided for quickly removing him in case of emergency. When safety belts and lifelines are used for this purpose they shall be so attached to the welder's body that his body cannot be jammed in a small exit opening. An attendant with a preplanned rescue procedure shall be stationed outside to observe the welder at all times and be capable of putting rescue operations into effect:    On or about December 14, 2016, when a Welder/Fabricator employee had to enter the confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank through a small tank opening (manway):    a)  The employer did not provide means for quickly removing the Welder/Fabricator employee in case of emergency; and    b)  The employer did not ensure an attendant with a preplanned rescue procedure was stationed outside the confined space to observe the Welder/Fabricator employee at all times.    In the alternative;    29 CFR 1910.146(i)(5):  The employer shall ensure each attendant communicates with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space under paragraph (i)(6) of this section:    On or about December 14, 2016, the employer did not ensure that an attendant was present and communicating with a Welder/Fabricator employee who had entered the permit-required confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank.    In the alternative;    29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3):  To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods shall be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment would increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant:    On or about December 14, 2016, the employer did not utilize retrieval systems or other methods to facilitate non-entry rescue when a Welder/Fabricator employee entered the permit-required confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank.

Issued

Mar 27, 2017

Abate by

May 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(2)(i):  General. Mechanical ventilation shall be provided when welding or cutting is done on metals not covered in paragraphs (c)(5) through(c)(12) of this section:    On or about December 14, 2016, mechanical ventilation was not provided to the confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank when a Welder/Fabricator employee enter the confined space through the manway via an extension ladder.    In the alternative;    29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4):  If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives:    On or about December 14, 2016, the employer's written permit space program did not comply with this section. A Welder/Fabricator employee entered into the permit-required confined space of a 500 gallon Brine Tank without:  1) a supervisor completing an entry permit; 2) an attendant executing their duties; and 3) rescue and emergency services in place.    All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.146(d) through (k) must be covered in a written permit space program. Key provisions include, but are not limited to the following:    1)  Permit-required confined space (PRCS) program  2)  Permits system  3)  Entry permit  4)  Employee training  5)  Duties of entrant, attendant and supervisor  6)  Rescue and emergency services

Issued

Mar 27, 2017

Abate by

May 3, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(c)(2)(ii):  Minimum rate. Such ventilation shall be at the minimum rate of 2,000 cubic feet (57 m^3) per minute per welder, except where local exhaust hoods and booths as per paragraph (c)(3) of this section, or airline respirators approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for such purposes are provided:    On or about December 14, 2016, mechanical ventilation provided to the confined space of 500 gallon Brine Tanks was not at the minimum rate of 2,000 cubic feet per minute when a Welder/Fabricator employee enter the confined space through the manway via an extension ladder.

Issued

Mar 27, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(iii):  If monitoring reveals employee exposures to be at or above the action level, the employer shall perform periodic monitoring at least every six months:    On or about December 14, 2016, the employer had not performed periodic monitoring at least every six (6) months for chromium (VI) when personal air monitoring resulted in exposures above the action level of 2.5 ug/m3. On or about August 5, 2015, the employer's air monitoring records showed a Fab Trainee employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a level of 5 ug/m3.