OSHA Inspection: FIRST CHOICE, LLC

Issued

Sep 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 31, 2019

Penalty

Initial $425 · Current $425

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1): The employer did not submit to the Agency, along with the information on abatement certification required by paragraph (c)(3) of this section, documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.  a) First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing - Lorain, Ohio:  On or about September 25, 2019, the employer did not provide documentation demonstrating that abatement was completed for Citation1 Item 4a, Citation 1 Item 4c, Citation 1 Item 4d, Citation 1 Item 7a, and Citation 1 Item 7b and became a final order on April 24, 2019.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $792 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(3)(i): Blast-cleaning enclosures were no exhaust ventilated in such a way that a continuous inward flow of air was be maintained at all openings in the enclosure during the blasting operation.      a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about August 29, 2017, the employer did not ensure the ventilation system for the abrasive blasting booth was adequate in removing abrasive blasting dust from the operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $792 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(5)(v): Operators were not equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect them from the impact of abrasives.     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about August 29, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees performing the abrasive blasting operation were wearing a heavy canvas or leather apron or a blasting suit.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, was not provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it was necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees performing powder coating operations were wearing protective equipment for the body to prevent skin contact with powder coating materials which contain 1,3,5 Triglycidylisocyanurate (TGIC).

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $792

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.136(a): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used protective footwear when working in areas where there is was danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees removing frames from the "hang-on" and "take-off" line were wearing foot protection when handling 150 pound frames.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $792 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use.     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about August 31, 2017, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program which covered employees wearing a full face respirator when potentially exposed to 1,3,5 Triglycidylisocyanurate during the powder coating operations wearing an air supplied abrasive blasting hood when performing the abrasive blasting operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

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; this evaluation did not include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form.     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not evaluate employee exposures to 1,3,5 Triglycidylisocyanurate during the powder coating operation     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not evaluate employee exposures to total dust and respirable dust from the abrasive blasting operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure an employee received a medical evaluation prior to voluntarily wearing a full face tight fitting respirator when performing the powder coating operation.     b. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about August 29, 2017, the employer did not ensure an employee received a medical evaluation prior to  wearing an air supplied abrasive blasting hood when performing the abrasive blasting operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

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, and they were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure the abrasive blasting hood used by employees to perform the abrasive blasting operation was store to protect it from damage, contamination, and dust.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of at least the following Sections (i) through (vii):    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees who wore a full face tight fitting full face respirator when performing the powder coating operation and an air supplied abrasive blasting hood when performing the abrasive blasting operation, were provided with information and training on the following topics:    1. Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;  2. What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;  3. How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions;  4. How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;  5. What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;  6. How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators;   7. The general requirements of this section.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $792 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7): For oil-lubricated compressors, the employer did not use a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm, or both, to monitor carbon monoxide levels. If only high-temperature alarms are used, the air supply was not monitored at intervals sufficient to prevent carbon monoxide in the breathing air from exceeding 10 ppm.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about August 31, 2017, the employer did not ensure a high temperature or carbon monoxide alarm was used to monitor carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air being supplied to the respirator used by an employee performing the abrasive blasting operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $792 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(b): The blast cleaning nozzles were not equipped with an operating valve which must be held open manually.     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure the abrasive blasting nozzle used by the employees in the abrasive blasting operation was equipped with an operating valve which must be held open manually.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $792 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employersdid not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not develop and implement a hazard communication program which covered employees potentially exposed to 1,3,5 Triglycidylisocyanurate during the powder coating operations and total dust from the abrasive blasting operation.

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.    a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees who were exposed to 1,3,5 Triglycidylisocyanurate during the powder coating operations and to dust from the abrasive blasting operation, were provided with training on the following topics:    1. Requirements of the Hazard Communication standard;  2. Any operations in their work area where hazardous substances are present;  3. Location and availability of the written hazard communication program;  3. The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;  5. Measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to hazardous substances;  6. Explanation of the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) including their location and how to interrupt the information on the SDS;  7. Explanation of the work place labeling system and labels  received on shipped containers;

Issued

Nov 27, 2017

Abate by

May 23, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): The employer did not provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard. If the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer did not provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section.     a. First Choice, LLC dba SK Finishing located in Lorain, Ohio:  On or about June 20, 2017, the employer did not ensure employees wearing dust masks while performing the powder coating operation and the abrasive blasting operation were provided with information contained in appendix D.