OSHA Inspection: AAA BLAST COTE, INC.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,387 · Current $3,230 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:   a) at the facility, the elements of a hearing conservation program had not been established.  An abrasive blaster was exposed to 766.3% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 104.6 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 483 minutes on April 26, 2017.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employer did not establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms could be compared:   a) at the facility, base line audiograms were not conducted for employees exposed to sound pressure levels greater than 85 dbA.  An abrasive blaster was exposed to 766.3% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 104.6 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 483 minutes on April 26, 2017.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

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). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  a) at the facility , the employer did not train employees on the affects of noise or on the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).  An abrasive blaster was exposed to 766.3% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 104.6 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 483 minutes on April 26, 2017.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  (a) at the facility, employees in the spray area wear a Binks, Millennium 3000, half-face elastomeric type respirator with a combination cartridge, organic vapor HEPA.  The employee did not receive a medical evaluation or a fit-test.  (b) at the facility, employees in the blast booth wear an Apollo 600 blast hood with supplied air.  The employee did not receive a medical evaluation.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(3): The employer did not designate a program administrator who was qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and to conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:  (a) at the facility, employees in the spray area and confined spaces wear a Binks, Millennium 3000, half-face elastomeric type respirator with a combination cartridge, organic vapor HEPA.  Painters use urethane surface coatings and others that contain diisocyanates.  No employee is trained in respiratory protection or has the knowledge to evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace.

Issued

Jun 9, 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:  (a) at the facility, employees in the spray area wear a Binks, Millennium 3000, half-face elastomeric type respirator with a combination cartridge, organic vapor HEPA.    (b) at the facility, employees use an Apollo 600 blast hood during surface preparation.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iii): The employer did not ensure that compressor(s) used to supply breathing air to respirators were constructed and situated so as to have had suitable in-line air-purifying sorbent beds and filters to further ensure breathing air quality:    (a) at the facility, blast room #2, breathing air quality was not ensured by sorbent beds and filters.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(6): For compressors that are not oil-lubricated, the employer did not ensure that carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air did not exceed 10 ppm:   (a) at the facility, blast room #2, breathing air quality was not ensured by monitoring carbon monoxide levels.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,280 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:  (a) at the facility, tanks and vessels were not evaluated when blasting and painting internally.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,802 · Current $2,280 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a forklift:  (a) at the facility, forklift drivers were not trained on all the elements this standard requires.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,338 · Current $3,801 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:  (a) at the facility, a written hazard communication program had not been developed, maintained and implemented.  Painters use hazardous substances such as but not limited to Hi-Solids Polyurethane Activator which contains 29% methyl n-amyl ketone, 0.5% hexamethylene diisocyanate and 71% hexamethylene diisocyanate polymer; Firetex M90 Epoxy Intumescent Coating (Part A) which contains 8% ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, 21% epoxy polymer, and 3% titanium dioxide; STEEL SPEC Structural Steel Primer (gray) which contains 8% light aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 8% medium aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 6% mineral spirits 140 flash and 2% titanium dioxide and Urethane Converter 811 which contains 75% homopolymer of HDI, 10% N-butyl acetate and 10 % aromatic hydrocarbon.  Blasters use Black Beauty (coal slag) which contains 48% amorphous silicon dioxide, 18% aluminum oxide, 18% iron oxide, 5% calcium oxide, 2% potassium oxide, 1% titanium oxide, 1% magnesium oxide, 1% sodium oxide, 0.1% quartz, 0.05% cristobalite, and 0.00005% beryllium.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet.  (a) at the facility, a list of all hazardous chemicals in the workplace was not compiled.  Painters use hazardous substances such as but not limited to Hi-Solids Polyurethane Activator which contains 29% methyl n-amyl ketone, 0.5% hexamethylene diisocyanate and 71% hexamethylene diisocyanate polymer; Firetex M90 Epoxy Intumescent Coating (Part A) which contains 8% ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, 21% epoxy polymer, and 3% titanium dioxide; STEEL SPEC Structural Steel Primer (gray) which contains 8% light aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 8% medium aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 6% mineral spirits 140 flash and 2% titanium dioxide and Urethane Converter 811 which contains 75% homopolymer of HDI, 10% N-butyl acetate and 10 % aromatic hydrocarbon.  Blasters use Black Beauty (coal slag) which contains 48% amorphous silicon dioxide, 18% aluminum oxide, 18% iron oxide, 5% calcium oxide, 2% potassium oxide, 1% titanium oxide, 1% magnesium oxide, 1% sodium oxide, 0.1% quartz, 0.05% cristobalite, and 0.00005% beryllium.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jul 14, 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:  (a) at the facility, employees were not informed of the hazards in their workplace or trained on this standard, safety data sheets and required labeling of containers in the work place.  Painters use hazardous substances such as but not limited to Hi-Solids Polyurethane Activator which contains 29% methyl n-amyl ketone, 0.5% hexamethylene diisocyanate and 71% hexamethylene diisocyanate polymer; Firetex M90 Epoxy Intumescent Coating (Part A) which contains 8% ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, 21% epoxy polymer, and 3% titanium dioxide; STEEL SPEC Structural Steel Primer (gray) which contains 8% light aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 8% medium aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, 6% mineral spirits 140 flash and 2% titanium dioxide and Urethane Converter 811 which contains 75% homopolymer of HDI, 10% N-butyl acetate and 10 % aromatic hydrocarbon.  Blasters use Black Beauty (coal slag) which contains 48% amorphous silicon dioxide, 18% aluminum oxide, 18% iron oxide, 5% calcium oxide, 2% potassium oxide, 1% titanium oxide, 1% magnesium oxide, 1% sodium oxide, 0.1% quartz, 0.05% cristobalite, and 0.00005% beryllium.

Issued

Jun 9, 2017

Abate by

Jun 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,268 · Current $761 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.4(a): The employer did not keep records -OSHA 300 form, Log of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses; 300-A form, Summary or Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses; and 301 form, Injury and Illness Incident Report:  (a) On February 1, 2017, and times prior too, the employer did not develop or regularly maintain OSHA injury and illness logs, post the 300A or maintain the OSHA form 301.