OSHA Inspection: MARSHALL POTTERY INC.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,149 · Current $5,704 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(ii)(A): The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater and has not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii):    On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by employees who are exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater, and who has not yet had a baseline audiogram, exposing employees to hearing loss.    (a) An employee working in packaging on red side assembly lines #1 and #2 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 72.35% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level of 72.35% is approximately 87.6 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 447 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 33 minutes;    (b) A roller kiln press operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 67.10% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level for 67.10% is approximately 87.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 411 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 69 minutes.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $4,889 · Current $3,403 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 this section. The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.    On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not train each press operator and packaging employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels, exposing employees to hearing loss.     (a) An employee working in packaging on red side assembly lines #1 and #2 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 72.35% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level of 72.35% is approximately 87.6 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 447 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 33 minutes;    (b) A roller kiln press operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 67.10% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level for 67.10% is approximately 87.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 411 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 69 minutes.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:  (a) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, employees exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels did not receive annual training on the hearing conservation program.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,778 · Current $6,844 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:    (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and times prior thereto, throughout Plant #3, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when employees are performing work on live electrical systems;    (b) On or about May 1, 2017, and times prior thereto, throughout Plant #3, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when employees are using chemicals;    (c) On or about May 1, 2017, and times prior thereto, in the clay prep area, employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when employees are using chemicals.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances K107S115

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:   (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that employees using barium carbonate and other chemicals in the clay prep area used appropriate eye or face protection, exposing employees to eye irritation;   (b) On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that employees using the pink lubricant, a mixture of diesel fuel, kerosene, and stearic Acid, in the tunnel kiln and roller kiln press areas used appropriate eye or face protection, exposing employees to eye irritation and cataracts;   (c) On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior to, the employer did not ensure that employees using abrasive wheels in the maintenance shop used appropriate eye or face protection, exposing employees to eye damage from flying particles;   (d) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior to, maintenances employees were exposed to eye damage from flying particles while helping an outside contractor use an unguarded hand held angle grinder without wearing eye or face protection.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2505K107M156N807

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  (a) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in the clay prep area where employees use barium carbonate, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;  (b) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in the tunnel kiln press area where employees use a mixture of kerosene, diesel fuel, and stearic acid, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;  (c) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not identify and evaluate respiratory hazards in the roller kiln press area where employees use a mixture of kerosene, diesel fuel, and stearic acid, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances K107S115

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employers did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that employees using the pink lubricant, a mixture of diesel fuel, kerosene, and stearic acid, in the tunnel kiln and roller kiln press areas used appropriate hand protection, exposing employees to rashes and irritation.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $6,519 · Current $4,563 Reduced

Hazardous substances K107S115

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) On or about June 14, 2017, and times prior thereto, employees pouring bags of barium carbonate into hoppers in the clay prep area were exposed to chemical hazards and were not provided with effective information and training on that chemical;    (b) On or about June 14, 2017, and times prior thereto, press operators and maintenance employees using a mixture of kerosene, stearic acid and diesel fuel as a lubricant for the dyes were exposed to chemical hazards and were not provided with effective information and training on that chemical.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $81,484 · Current $57,038 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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:    On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide audiometric testing, including baseline audiograms, for employees exposed to occupational noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, exposing employees to hearing loss.    (a) An employee working in packaging on red side assembly lines #1 and #2 was exposed to continuous noise levels at 72.35% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level of 72.35% is approximately 87.6 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 447 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 33 minutes.  This employee has worked at the facility for approximately 1 year and was hired after the initial noise monitoring was conducted in March of 2014;    (b) A roller press operator was exposed to continuous noise leves at 67.10% of the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  The equivalent dBA level for 67.10% is approximately 87.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 411 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 69 minutes.  This employee has worked at the facility for approximately 14 months and was hired after the initial noise monitoring was conducted in March of 2014.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $914 · Current $640 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:      (a) On or about June 12, 2017, and at times prior thereto  employees in the green stack off area used N-95 respirators without being provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;     (b) On or about June 12, 2017, and at times prior thereto shrink wrap operators used N-95 respirators without being provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;      (c) On or about June 13, 2017, and at times prior thereto roller kiln operators used N-95 respirators without being provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;     (d) On or about June 14, 2017, and at times prior thereto at least one dye support employee used N-95 respirators without being provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards;     (e) On or about May 12, 2017, and at times prior thereto day prep employees used N-95 respirators without being provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $914 · Current $640 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(c)(1): Portable fire extinguishers were not mounted, located and identified so that they were readily accessible without subjecting the employees to injuries:    (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and times prior thereto, portable fire extinguishers in the shrink wrap area near the shrink wrap machine was not identified or mounted;    (b) On or about May 1, 2017, and times prior thereto, portable fire extinguishers in the shrink wrap near the bay door was not mounted;    (c) On or about May 2, 2017, and times prior thereto, portable fire extinguishers in the clay prep area near the propane tank was not identified or mounted;    (d) On or about May 2, 2017 and times prior thereto, portable fire extinguishers in the tunnel kiln control room was not identified.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $914 · Current $640 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:    (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and at time prior thereto, one portable fire extinguisher located near the propane torch in the shrink wrap area was last serviced in March of 2014, exposing employees to fire hazards;    (b) On or about May 2, 2017, and at time prior thereto, one portable fire extinguisher located near the propane tank in the clay prep area was last serviced in March of 2014, exposing employees to fire hazards;     (c) On or about May 2, 2017, and at time prior thereto, one portable fire extinguisher located in the tunnel kiln control room was last serviced in March of 2014, exposing employees to fire hazards;     (d) On or about May 2, 2017, and at time prior thereto, one portable fire extinguisher located near the electrical panel in the tunnel kiln control booth was last serviced in March of 2014, exposing employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 6, 2017

Penalty

Initial $914 · Current $640 Reduced

Hazardous substances K107

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical    (a) On or about May 1, 2017, and at times prior thereto, tunnel and roller kiln press operators and maintenance employees use unlabeled water and soda pop bottles to store a mixture of kerosene, diesel fuel, and steric acid, exposing employees to chemical hazards.