OSHA Inspection: KOVATCH CASTINGS, INC.

Issued

Mar 15, 2018

Abate by

Jul 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $8,315 · Current $6,652 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of cobalt dust listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.1 mg/m3:    On or about November 14, 2017, an employee performing grinding activities was exposed to cobalt dust at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 0.77 mg/m3 during the 408 minute sampling period. This is 7.75 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 72 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 15, 2018

Abate by

Jul 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    a. On or about November 14, 2017, an employee engaged in grinding activities was exposed to cobalt dust at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 0.77 mg/m3 during the 408 minute sampling period. This is 7.75 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 72 minutes not sampled. Engineering controls were not effectively utilized to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).     Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:    1. Local ventilation effectively installed on the grinder unit.    Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to air contaminants as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1. Evaluation of engineering control options    2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design    3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures    4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls    Step 2: All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Proposed control measures selected should be appropriate to the type of material present. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 30 days.    Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls including verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.    b. On or about November 14, 2017, an employee performing knock out activities was exposed to respirable dust containing silica (cristobalite) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 0.269 mg/m3 during the 209 minute sampling period. This is 1.343 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.200 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 271 minutes not sampled.    Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:    1. Local ventilation effectively installed at the knock out station.    2. Administrative controls implemented for the job task.     Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to air contaminants as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1. Evaluation of engineering control options    2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design    3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures    4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls    Step 2: All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Proposed control measures selected should be appropriate to the type of material present. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 30 days.    Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls including verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.

Issued

Mar 15, 2018

Abate by

Jul 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee was exposed to respirable dust containing silica (cristobalite) in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 10 mg/m3/ (2*% cristobalite)+2 listed in Table Z-3:    On or about November 14, 2017, an employee performing knock out activities was exposed to respirable dust containing silica (cristobalite) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 0.269 mg/m3 during the 209 minute sampling period. This is 1.343 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.200 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 271 minutes not sampled.