OSHA Inspection: US TANK PAINTING, INC.

Issued

May 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(7) as referenced by 29 CFR 1926.103: For oil-lubricated compressors, the employer did not use a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm, or both, to monitor carbon monoxide levels:    178 Hillcrest Avenue, Morristown, NJ    a) Employees performing abrasive blasting and spray painting inside Water Tank #1 utilized supplied air respirators with air provided by an oil lubricated compressor that was not equipped with a carbon monoxide or high temperature alarm to ensure that the air quality was safe for breathing.     Violation occurred on or about December 15 -19, 2017.

Issued

May 31, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $5,000

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1): In all cases where the sound levels exceed the values shown in Table D-2 of the Permissible Noise Exposures Table, the employer did not implement and administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program:      Worksite, 8200 Boulevard East, North Bergen, NJ      a) While performing abrasive blasting of the interior of Water Tank #1, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 1,296% of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA which is 12.96 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 108.4 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 349 minutes on 12/19/2017, with the unsampled portion of time, 131minutes, considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.      b) While vacuuming spent steel grit from the interior of Water Tank #1, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 313% of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA which is 3.13 times the allowable exposure limit, respectively.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 98.2 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 373  minutes on 12/19/2017, with the unsampled portion of time, 107 minutes, considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.        Violation occurred on or about December 19, 2017.

Issued

May 31, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,696 · Current $5,000

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.62(d)(1)(i): Each employer who had a workplace or operation covered by 29 CFR 1926.62 did not initially determine if any employee was exposed to lead at or above the action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 ug/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA):      a) 178 Hillcrest Avenue, Morristown, NJ    The employer did not intially determine if workers conducting abrasive blasting and vacuuming operations inside Water Tank #1 were exposed to lead at or above the action level.  During vacuuming operations an employee was exposed to 41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) of lead as an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) which is 1.38 times the Action Level of 30 ug/m3.  Sampling was conducted for 310 minutes, with zero exposure assumed for the 170 minutes not sampled.      Violation occurred on or  about December 19, 2017.

Issued

May 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,956 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.350(a)(9): Compressed gas cylinders were not secured in an upright position at all times:      a) 178 Hillcrest Ave, Morristown, NJ    The employer did not ensure that compressed oxygen and acetylene gas cylinders resting against the exterior of Water Tank #1 were secured from falling over..      Violation occurred on or about December 19, 2017

Issued

May 31, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.350(a)(10): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinder or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:     a) 178 Hillcrest Ave, Morristown, NJ    The employer did not ensure that compressed oxygen and acetylene gas cylinders were  properly stored with an oxygen and acetylene cylinder placed next to each other and leaning against the Water Tank #1.     Violation occurred on or about December 19, 2018

Issued

May 31, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1203(d): Employers directing employees to enter a permit space did not have a written permit space program that complies with 29 CFR 1926.1204 implemented at the construction site and made available prior to and during entry operations for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives:    a) 178 Hillcrest Avenue, Morristown, NJ    The employer did not have nor implement a written permit space program that complied with 29 CFR 1926.1204 where workers were entering Water Tank #1 to perform abrasive blasting and spraying flammable paint.      Violation occurred on or about December 4 - 19, 2017.

Issued

May 31, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,174 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1211(b)(4): The employer did not ensure that affected employees practice making permit space rescues before attempting an actual rescue, and at least once every 12 months, by means of simulated rescue operations in which they remove dummies, manikins, or actual persons from the actual permit spaces or from representative permit spaces:      a) 178 Hillcrest Avenue, Morristown, NJ    The employer failed to ensure that workers designated to perform confined space rescue operations were adequately trained in such requirements.  Workers performed abrasive blasting and spraying flammable paint inside Water Tank #1, a permit required confined space.      Violation occurred on or about December 4 -  19, 2017.