OSHA Inspection: ARCONIC TITANIUM AND ENGINEERED PRODUCTS

Issued

Aug 7, 2017

Abate by

Oct 10, 2017

Penalty

Initial $5,432 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(1): Substances with limits preceded by "C" - Ceiling Values. An employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which is preceded by a "C", shall at no time exceed the exposure limit given for that substance. If instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, then the ceiling shall be assessed as a 15-minute time weighted average exposure which shall not be exceeded at any time during the working day.    On or about May 23, 2017, the utility operator in the melt shop performing the lid cleaning operation was exposed over the established ceiling limit for vanadium.  The operator was exposed to approximately 1.2 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/M3), approximately 12.0 times above the limit of 0.1 mg/M3, for the 99 minutes sampled. Zero exposure for time not sampled.

Issued

Aug 7, 2017

Abate by

Oct 10, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e):  Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  On or about May 23, 2017, adequate controls were not in place for the employees including, but not limited to, those as described in Citation 1, item 1a:    General methods of control applicable in this circumstance include, but are not limited to the following:   1)      Evaluate the use of exhaust/air contaminant removal systems at the lid cleaning operation in the melt shop to ensure the most adequate removal of the contaminants from the worker exposure; 2)      Re-evaluate the existing work practices at the lid cleaning operation in the melt shop to reduce the worker exposures to the airborne air contaminants, in particular the vanadium.    Step 1:  Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or whatever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits. (in place and in use by the employees)    Step 2:  Submit to the Area Director a written plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:    1)       Reevaluation of the current engineering/administrative control options;    2)      Selection of optimum control methods for this system and completion of design;    3)      Procurement, installation, and operation of selected improvement measures; and    4)      Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    NOTE:  All proposed control measures shall be approved for such particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.  (Abatement must be completed by **60 days** from issuance)    Step 3:  Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  (Abatement must be completed by **90 days** from issuance)