OSHA Inspection: NORTHERN WINDUSTRIAL CO.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.102(a): In-plant transfer, handling, storage, and/or use of acetylene in cylinders did not comply with the provisions of CGA Pamphlet G-1-2009 ("Acetylene"):    LOADING DOCK AREA:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, an acetylene cylinder was stored between an overhead loading dock door and an emergency exit.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.110(f)(2)(ii): Liquefied petroleum gas container(s) stored inside were located near exits, stairways, or in areas normally used or intended for the safe exit of people:  LOADING DOCK AREA:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, LPG cylinders used for powered industrial vehicles were stored immediately adjacent to an emergency exit.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one half hour.  PRODUCTION AREA:  On or about January 10, 2017, oxygen cylinders were stored within 20 feet of flammable and/or combustible materials in the following locations:  1.  Southeast Wall Near Loading Dock 2.  Southeast Wall 3.  South Wall

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):    FABRICATION AREA:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had not conducted a job-specific hazard assessment to identify hazards present that would require use of personal protective equipment.  Such tasks included, but were not limited to, cutting and welding pipe and using aerosolized hazardous chemicals such as methylene chloride.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(5): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used equipment with filter lenses that had a shade number appropriate for the work being performed, for protection from injurious light radiation.  AUTOMATIC WELDER:  On or about January 10, 2017, employees who used the North Alabama Pipe Auto Welder were not required to wear eye protection with the appropriate shaded filters while welding.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,173 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): The employer did not determine if the voluntary use of a respirator did not in itself create a hazard and respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    FABRICATION SHOP:    On or about, and at times prior to, January 10, 2017:    1)  The employer permitted employees to use their own personal elastomeric half-face respirators without determining that the respirator cartridges in use were appropriate to protect the employees from the hazards to which they were exposed.    2)  The employer permitted employees to wear N-95 particulate respirators and elastomeric half-face respirators on a voluntary basis while cutting, grinding and threading steel pipe; however, no training had been provided with respect to the appropriate use, proper donning and doffing procedures, care and limitations of the respirators.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:    FABRICATION SHOP:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had not developed and implemented a written respiratory protection program to ensure employees were medically cleared for wearing respirators and that the respirators were properly cared for.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace    FABRICATION SHOP:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer did not provide medical evaluations for employees who were allowed to voluntarily use tight-fitting elastomeric respirators while fabricating pipes for fire suppression systems.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 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:    FABRICATION SHOP:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer did not ensure that elastomeric half-face respirators that were available for employees to use were stored in such a manner as to protect them from damage, contamination, and dust.  Employees wore the respirators when welding and cutting pipe for the fabrication of fire suppression systems.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(i)(A): Respirators used in routine situations were not inspected before each use and during cleaning:    FABRICATION SHOP:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer did not require to inspect respirators prior to wearing them.  The cradle suspension head harness assembly for the AO Safety half-face respirator was broken.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields:    FABRICATION AREA:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, welding screens were not provided to protect employees working near welding processes from the UV radiation emitted from the welding arc.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i): The employer having employee(s) with occupational exposure did not establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure:    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, employees expected to respond to an exposure incident were not provided with blood-borne pathogen training nor had they been offered the Hepatitis B vaccination series.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee with occupational exposure participated in a training program:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had determined that all employees were responsible for rendering first aid and cleaning up blood and other potentially infectious materials after an injury at the facility.  The employer did not provide employees with training including, but not limited to: hazards associated with blood-borne pathogens and how the employees should protect themselves from such hazards.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $1,739 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(1)(i): Where methylene chloride was present in the workplace, the employer did not determine each employee's exposure:    FABRICATION:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had not determined employee exposure to methylene chloride for those employees who use the chemical to check for leaks when fabricating piping.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(h)(1): Where needed to prevent methylene chloride induced skin or eye irritation, the employer did not provide clean protective clothing and equipment resistant to methylene chloride, at no cost to the employee, and/or did not ensure that each affected employee used it:  FABRICATION AREA:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer did not ensure that employees wore appropriate personal protective equipment when using aerosolized methylene chloride to check the integrity of pipe welds.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(i)(2): It was reasonably foreseeable that an employee's eyes may contact solutions containing 0.1 percent or greater methylene chloride and the employer did not provide appropriate eyewash facilities within the immediate work area for emergency use:  FABRICATION AREA:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, employees responsible for fabricating pipes for fire suppression systems were instructed to use aerosol products containing methylene chloride to ensure that welded areas did not have any holes where water would leak.  There was no eyewash available in the work area.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(1): The employer did not provide information and training for each affected employee prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to methylene chloride:  FABRICATION AREA:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had provided information or training pertaining to the hazards of methylene chloride for employees who were using aerosols containing the chemical to check welded pipes for leaks.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    COMPANY-WIDE:    On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program.  Hazard chemicals used at the site include, but are not limited to:  compressed gases (liquid propane gas, oxygen, acetylene, argon), flammable aerosols (containing xylene, acetone, toluene, and/or ethylbenzene), and non-flammable aerosols containing methylene chloride.

Issued

May 12, 2017

Abate by

Jun 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  FABRICATION AREA:  On or about and at times prior to January 10, 2017, the employer did not train employees on the physical and health hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals with which they were working.  Such chemicals included but were not limited to: compressed gases (liquid propane gas, oxygen, acetylene, argon), flammable aerosols (containing xylene, acetone, toluene, and/or ethylbenzene), and non-flammable aerosols containing methylene chloride.