OSHA Inspection: MANAFORT BROTHERS INC.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iv) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: The employer did not select respirators from a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes to ensure the respirators used in the worksite were acceptable to and correctly fit the users:    a. Schiller Station - On or about June 8, 2017, the employer failed to ensure that a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes were available to employees required to wear respirators.  Employees were exposed to mercury above the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 while working inside of the containments during the dismantling of mercury boilers and related equipment using torches.  Employees were required to wear North model 76008A full face air purifying respirators equipped with combination chlorine/mercury vapor/P100 cartridges, and only one respirator model and size was available.     Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(5) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: The fit test was not administered using an OSHA-accepted qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test  protocol:    a. Schiller Station - On or about June 8, 2017, the employer failed to ensure that the irritant smoke qualitative fit test was administered using the protocol outlined in Appendix A of 1910.134.  Employees were exposed to mercury above the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 while working inside of the containments during the dismantling of mercury boilers and related equipment using torches.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(6) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: Qualitative fit tests (QLFT) were performed on negative pressure air-purifying respirators when the required fit factor was greater than 100:       a. Schiller Station - On or about June 5, 2017, an employee was exposed to airborne mercury above ten times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 during the dismantling of the mercury boilers and related equipment.  As measured by the employer, the employee was exposed to 1.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight hour period, which is 17 times the permissible exposure limit.  The employer used a qualitative fit test (QLFT) method to fit test employees required to wear North model 76008A full face air purifying respirator equipped with combination chlorine/mercury vapor/P100 cartridges when a fit factor of greater than 100 was required.         Note:  The fit factor of a negative pressure air-purifying respirator using QLFT methods is 100 which limits the use of the respirator to 10 times the permissible exposure limit of a substance.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Abate by

Nov 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(2)(i) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: When there was a change in the work area, conditions, or degree of employee exposure or stress that may effect respirator effectiveness, the employer did not reevaluate the continued effectiveness of the respirator:    a. Schiller Station - On or about June 5, 2017, the employer failed to reevaluate the continued effectiveness of the respirators used by employees when there were changes such as increases in workplace temperature and increases in the levels of mercury vapor observed during direct-read and personal air sampling.  Employees were exposed to mercury above the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3 while working inside of the containments during the dismantling of mercury boilers and related equipment using torches.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.51(g): Employees were permitted to consume food or beverage in a toilet room or in any area(s) exposed to toxic materials:    a. Schiller Station - On or about June 6, 2017, the employer did not prohibit employees from consuming beverages in areas where mercury was known to be present.  Employees were exposed to ingesting elemental and inorganic mercury while drinking fluids provided from containers including, but not limited to water bottles, a blue beverage dispenser, and cups in the dirty room of the level 59 boiler containment decon.      Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.95(a): Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, were not provided:    a. Schiller Station - On or about June 8, 2017, the employer failed to ensure that employees were provided with adequate protective clothing to protect against skin contact with elemental mercury.  Employees were exposed to skin contact with elemental mercury while torch cutting, tapping and, draining mercury boiler piping and related equipment.  Employees were required to wear Multigard coveralls which were not designed to protect against skin contact with elemental mercury.  Additionally, the coveralls were prone to tearing and burn holes from hot work activities.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $126,749 · Current $164,774

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(1) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: Evaluations of the workplace were not conducted to ensure the written respiratory protection program was being effectively implemented:    a. Schiller Station - On or about May 30, 2017, the employer failed to conduct evaluations of the workplace to ensure that all elements of the respiratory protection program were being effectively implemented following employee complaints and concerns of mercury exposure.  Employee exposure to airborne mercury during the dismantling of the mercury boilers and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 5 2017 was as high as 1.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight hour period, which is 17 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(2) as required by 29 CFR 1926.103: The employer did not regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess the employees' views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems:    a. Schiller Station - On or about May 30, 2017, the employer failed to consult with employees that were required to wear North model 76008A full face air purifying respirators equipped with combination chlorine/mercury vapor/P100 cartridges to identify and correct any problems with respirator fit, selection, use, and maintenance following employee complaints and concerns of mercury exposure.  Employee exposure to airborne mercury during the dismantling of the mercury boilers and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 5, 2017 was as high as 1.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight hour period, which is 17 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Abate by

Nov 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $126,749 · Current $164,774

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Employee(s) were exposed to material(s) at concentrations above those specified in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:    a. Schiller Station - On or about May 30, 2017 and on at least 24 occasions prior to and at least 32 occasions on or after, the employer failed to ensure that employee exposure to mercury above the permissible exposure limit was avoided.  Employee exposure to airborne mercury during the dismantling of the mercury boilers and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 5, 2017 was as high as 1.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eleven hour period, which was seventeen times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.

Issued

Nov 28, 2017

Abate by

Nov 29, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1631M111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s):    a. Schiller Station - On or about May 30, 2017 and on at least 24 occasions prior to and at least 32 occasions on or after, the employer failed to ensure that feasible administrative and engineering controls were used when employee exposure to mercury was above the permissible exposure limit.  Employee exposure to airborne mercury during the dismantling of the mercury boilers and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 5, 2017 was as high as 1.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eleven hour period, which was seventeen times the permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.    Note:  Exposure to mercury may result in symptoms of nervous system toxicity including, but not limited to personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction or narrowing of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.  Additionally, exposure to high levels of mercury vapor can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate lungs and airways, causing tightness of breath, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing.  Other effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, and kidney damage.