OSHA Inspection: CONTAINER DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,622 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm, in that employees were exposed to reactive material/chemical hazards due to the practice of draining residual liquid chemicals from 30 and 55 gallon steel drums into common containers without implementing means to prevent unwanted chemical reactions capable of causing serious physical harm to employees:    On or about February 7, 2018, and at times prior, residual liquid chemicals from 30 and 55 gallon steel drums were drained throughout each shift and collected in a common container (55 gallon steel drum) consisting of comingled chemicals.  Additionally, waste water from the drum washing process, which contains a sodium hydroxide solution and unknown chemical residues, was added to the common container on at least a monthly basis.  The mixing of potentially reactive materials/chemicals, as well as the mixing/addition of chemical unknowns, exposed employees to reactive chemical hazards (such as, but not limited to, chemical burns, burns from flame, inhalation of toxic gases/vapors, struck-by container fragments, etc.) associated with unwanted byproducts of potential chemical reactions which include the generation of heat, the generation of gases/vapors with hazardous properties, and the generation of pressure.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,622 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    Whenever employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured in the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent, the employer did not administer an effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o).  On or about February 7, 2018:    a. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 99.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.9 dBA during the 461 minute sample period.    b. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 80.8% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.4 dBA during the 449 minute sample period.    c. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 53.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.4 dBA during the 471 minute sample period.    d. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.3% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.7 dBA during the 465 minute sample period.    e. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.9% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.8 dBA during the 464 minute sample period.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA) :  The employer did not establish or maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by the standard, by failing to provide audiometric testing services to all employees whose noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA.  On or about February 7, 2018:  a. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 99.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.9 dBA during the 461 minute sample period.  b. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 80.8% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.4 dBA during the 449 minute sample period.  c. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 53.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.4 dBA during the 471 minute sample period.  d. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.3% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.7 dBA during the 465 minute sample period.  e. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.9% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.8 dBA during the 464 minute sample period.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels (dBA) in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  The employer did not train employees exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA on the effects of noise on hearing, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of the various types of hearing protection, instructions of selection, fitting, use, and care.  On or about February 7, 2018:  a. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 99.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.9 dBA during the 461 minute sample period.  b. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 80.8% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.4 dBA during the 449 minute sample period.  c. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 53.1% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.4 dBA during the 471 minute sample period.  d. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.3% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.7 dBA during the 465 minute sample period.  e. An employee was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 55.9% of the action level or an equivalent sound level of approximately 85.8 dBA during the 464 minute sample period.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Jul 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $2,587 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(a): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), were not kept in covered containers when not actually in use:    The employer did not ensure that Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids were stored in a covered container when not in use.  On or about February 7, 2018, an uncovered metal bucket partially filled with paint thinner, with a flashpoint of approximately 49.1 °F (9.5 °C) was found stored near the drying station of the drum-washing area.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Jul 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:    The employer did not ensure that secondary containers, containing paint thinner, were labeled, tagged, or marked with any measure that would provide at least general information regarding the hazard of the chemical and/or specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the paint thinner.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Jul 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(i): Adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors, where sources of ignition may include but not limited to, open flames, lightning, smoking, cutting and welding, hot surfaces, frictional heat, static, electrical, mechanical sparks, heat-producing chemical reactions, and radiant heat:    The employer did not ensure that 55-gallon steel drums that had contained flammable liquids were evaluated for the presence of flammable vapors prior to permitting employees to perform grinding and cutting operations on the drums.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Sep 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $2,587 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(iv): Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters were not protected with approved automatic sprinklers:    The employer did not ensure that the Spray Booth was equipped with an automatic sprinkler system or any other such fire suppression systems.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Jul 16, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,622 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    The employer did not ensure that employees were equipped with appropriate eye or face protection when handling 55-gallon steel drums that contained corrosive liquids and residues, such as but not limited to, cinnamon oil, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Sep 18, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,956 · Current $2,069 Reduced

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; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:    The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace, to include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to paint vapors, including but not limited to, 2-butoxyethanol.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,217 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): Respirators were not cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of 29 CFR 1910.134 or equivalent procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer:    The employer did not ensure that tight fitting, air purifying respirators were cleaned in accordance of the standard or as recommended by the respirator manufacturer prior to permitting an employee to use the respirator.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,622 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    The employer did not provide an eyewash station or emergency shower for employees exposed to corrosive chemcials and residues, to include but not limited to, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $3,622 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    The employer did not develop, implement, or maintain a hazard communication program that addressed how the criteria specified in the standard, specifically, chemical labeling, safety data sheets, or employee training provisions will be met.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical:  The employer did not maintain copies of the safety data sheets for each chemical contained in drums that were delivered to the facility.  Employees were exposed to multiple hazards, to include, but not limited to, respiratory and dermal hazards, when opening and cleaning drums on-site.

Issued

Jun 19, 2018

Abate by

Aug 6, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  The employer did not ensure that employees handling, opening, and cleaning chemical drums that contained chemical vapors and/or residues were provided effective information or training on the hazards of each chemical they may be exposed to at the time of their initial assignment or whenever a new chemical was introduced in the workplace.