OSHA Inspection: ATLANTIC COAST DISMANTLING, LLC

Issued

Dec 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,986 · 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 through June 13, 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 containment during the dismantling of mercury boiler turbine generators and related equipment.  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

Dec 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $7,986 · Current $0 Reduced

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 June 8, 2017 through June 13, 2017, 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 boiler turbine generators and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 8, 2017 was as high as 0.15 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eleven hour period, which exceeded 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

Dec 8, 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 June 8, 2017 through June 13, 2017, 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 boiler turbine generators and related equipment as measured by the employer on June 8, 2017 was as high as 0.15 milligrams per cubic meter of air averaged over an eleven hour period, which exceeded 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.