OSHA Inspection: SOVEREIGN STEEL MANUFACTURING, LLC

Issued

Sep 26, 2017

Abate by

Oct 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,803 · Current $989 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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 1910.9(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.) Shop Area -  An employees, fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 72.3% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 445 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 35 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program.     b.) Shop Area - An Employee,  fabricating (welding & grinding) parts for metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 180.0% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.6 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 429 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 51 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program.     c.) Shop Area -  An employees,  fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 88.6% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 89.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 444 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 36 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program.     d.) Shop Area -  An employees, who was fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 73.9% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 87.9 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 432 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program.

Issued

Sep 26, 2017

Abate by

Oct 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  a.) Shop Area -  An employees, fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 72.3% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 445 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 35 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement noise monitoring program to determine the need for employee inclusion in hearing conservation program.   b.) Shop Area - An Employee,  fabricating (welding & grinding) parts for metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 180.0% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.6 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 429 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 51 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement noise monitoring program to determine the need for employee inclusion in hearing conservation program.   c.) Shop Area -  An employees,  fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 88.6% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 89.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 444 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 36 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement noise monitoring program to determine the need for employee inclusion in hearing conservation program.    d.) Shop Area -  An employees, who was fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 73.9% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 87.9 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 432 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement noise monitoring program to determine the need for employee inclusion in hearing conservation program.

Issued

Sep 26, 2017

Abate by

Oct 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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:  a.) Shop Area -  An employees, fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 72.3% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 445 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 35 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as required.  b.) Shop Area - An Employee,  fabricating (welding & grinding) parts for metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 180.0% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.6 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 429 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 51 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as required.  c.) Shop Area -  An employees,  fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 88.6% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 89.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 444 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 36 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as required.  d.) Shop Area -  An employees, who was fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 73.9% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 87.9 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 432 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as required.

Issued

Sep 26, 2017

Abate by

Oct 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.) Shop Area -  An employees, fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 72.3% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 445 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 35 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not provide training as required.  b.) Shop Area - An Employee,  fabricating (welding & grinding) parts for metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 180.0% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.6 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 429 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 51 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not provide training as required.  c.) Shop Area -  An employees,  fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 88.6% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 89.2 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 444 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 36 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not provide training as required.  d.) Shop Area -  An employees, who was fabricating (welding & grinding) metal supports (towers) was exposed to continuous noise at 73.9% of the OSHA permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 87.9 dBA. This exposure was observed occurring over a 432 minute sampling period on July 14, 2017. A zero exposure was assumed for the 48 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not provide training as required.

Issued

Sep 26, 2017

Abate by

Oct 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,847 · Current $989 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00701520

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. Establishment - On or about June 7, 2017, Employees were exposed to chemical such as welding gases and iron fume during the welding and grinding operations on metal towers and/or tower parts. They were not provided information and training about these hazards, exposing them to respiratory and other health hazards.