OSHA Inspection: COLORADO STEEL, INC.

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,173 · Current $1,304 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:    (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented for required respirator use. An employee involved in painting activities, using chemicals such as Methyl Ethyl Ketone and Xylene, required to use a 3M 5200 half-face respirator was exposed to chemical inhalation hazards in that the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory program that included among other requirements annual fit testing, medical evaluation and training.          Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that respirator users were provided with the information contained in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that voluntary respirator use was permissible. Employees in the shop were exposed to respiratory hazards while voluntarily using 3M 5200 half-face respirators in that precautions were not taken to ensure that the respirator itself did not present a hazard.                 Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was required to use the respirator in the workplace. An employee involved in painting activities was exposed to respiratory hazards in that a medical evaluation was not conducted prior to the employee using a 3M model 5200 half-face respirator.          Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator. An employee involved in painting activities using a 3M 5200 half-face respirator was exposed to chemical inhalation hazards in that the employer did not conduct a fit test to ensure proper respirator fit prior to initial use.            Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 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:   (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that respirators were stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, extreme temperatures, and were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve. Employees using 3M 5200 half-face respirators were exposed to respiratory hazards in that their respirators were not properly stored to protect them from contamination, dust, extreme temperatures, damaging chemicals, deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.             Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Oct 6, 2017

Abate by

Nov 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i): Work space was less than 30 inches wide in front of electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less:  (a) On or about September 18, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that electrical equipment had a work space clearance of at least 30 inches wide in front of such equipment. Access to electrical panels in the main shop was blocked by several 5-gal buckets of flammable liquids.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").