OSHA Inspection: CHARLES INDUSTRIES, LTD

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,243 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(g)(4): Spray finishing employees' clothing was left on the premises overnight and not kept in metal lockers:    On or about June 5, 2017, the employer did not provide lockers for the painters and the employees stored their personal protective clothing immediately outside the booth and within the Powder Coat Area overnight.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1)(v): Employee(s) required to use PPE by this section were not trained to know the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE:    On or about June 5, 2017, the employer did not train the employees on the proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the Tyvek suits and gloves worn by the painters. Employees were required to powder coat metal parts with a known carcinogen.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $6,000 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:    On or about May 9, 2017, the employees exposed to powder coat paints and were required to wear a supplied air hood or full-facepiece tight-fitting respirator and the employer did not establish a written respiratory program with worksite specific procedures that included the following:    a) Procedures for fit testing tight-fitting respirators;    b) Procedures on employee medical evaluations and the recordkeeping requirements that are included in the employee's "confidential medical file" (practices to manage the confidentiality of the employee's medical file);    c) Procedures for the proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;    d) Procedures on storing the supplied air hood respirators;    e) Procedures on discarding the supplied air hood respirator and change schedule for the tight-fitting full-facepiece respirator filters;    f) Training of the employees to the respiratory hazards which they are potentially exposed to during routine and emergency situations; and    g) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:  On or about May 9, 2017, the employer did not provide an annual fit test for the painter who wore a tight-fitting full-face piece respirator equipped with N95 particulate filters.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(1): Evaluations of the workplace were not conducted to ensure the written respiratory protection program was being effectively implemented:  On or about May 13, 2017, the employer required the employees powder coating metal parts to wear a supplied air hood respirator and a tight-fitting full facepiece respirator and the employer did not conduct evaluations of the workplace to ensure the written program was effectively implemented.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(iii): Employee(s) did not perform a user seal check each time they put on a tight-fitting respirator using the procedure in Appendix B-1 of 29 CFR 1910.134 or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer that the employer demonstrated were as effective as those in Appendix B-1:    On or about May 9, 2017, the employer did not require the employees perform a user seal check each time the powder coat employees put on a tight-fitting full facepiece respirator, while applying a known carcinogen.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i): Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were not cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:  On or about June 14, 2017, employees manually powder coated metal pieces, using a known carcinogen, inside a powder booth were not required to clean and disinfect the supplied air hoods at least daily.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 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:  On or about June 14, 2017, the employer provided supplied air respirator hoods and the hoods were not stored to protect them from damage:  a) immediately outside the oven in the Paint Area the hoods were exposed to dust and extreme temperatures;  b) in the Paint Area outside the Paint Booth on top of the boxes containing Hentzen Powder Coat a hood was exposed to contamination from a known carcinogen;  c) inside the Paint Booth on a handrail for a mobile ladder a hood was exposed to contamination from a known carcinogen; and   d) inside a grey metal locker outside the Paint Area where the dirty suits are stored and the hoods were exposed to contamination from a known carcinogen.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(3)(ii)(A): Respirator inspections did not include a check of respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of the various parts including, but not limited to, the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters or filters:  a) On or about May 9, 2017, the employer did not ensure the tight-fitting full-facepiece respirator (used in situations when the carbon monoxide alarm was activated at the Paint Booth) was inspected at least monthly and checked for proper function before and after use.  b) On or about June 14, 2017, the employer did not ensure the supplied air hood respirators used daily in the Paint Booth were inspected before each use and when cleaned.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):  On or about May 9, 2017, the employer required the employees powder coating metal parts with a known carcinogen to wear a supplied air hood respirator and a tight-fitting full facepiece respirator and the employer did not ensure employees were trained on the following at least annually:    a) Why respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;  b) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;  c) How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions;   d) How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;  e) What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;  f) How to recognize the medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and  g) The general requirements of this section.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Abate by

Nov 9, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,243 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.    On or about June 14, 2017, the employer did not provide suitable hand protection for the employees that applied the Hentzen Combat Grade Off-White Primer Code P1410WEE-1 and Hentzen Off-White Polyester Powder Coating Code P2234WPC-2 and were exposed to skin corrosion/irritation and skin sensitization.

Issued

Oct 11, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is 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, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.    On or about June 5, 2017, employees in the Paint Area were exposed to Hentzen powder coatings and the employer did not label the containers with the identify of its contents and information on the hazards.