OSHA Inspection: VCNA PRAIRIE LLC DBA PRAIRIE MATERIAL

Issued

Jun 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,934 · Current $7,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances C730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of carbon monoxide listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8-hour Time-Weighted Average concentration of 50 parts per million (ppm):     On or about March 9, 2018, in the yard tunnel, two employees were exposed to carbon monoxide as follows:     a. An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 400 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 379.9 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.243). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 37.2%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 316.6 ppm CO (SAE = 0.242), which is 6.33 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.      b. An employee was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) during a 370 minute occupational exposure at a mean calculated 206.3 ppm CO level (SAE = 0.160). The %COHb in the employee's blood reached a calculated peak level of 23.8%. Atmospheric pressure, height, weight, activity levels, tobacco smoking behavior, and other factors were taken into account. The 8-hour TWA exposure was 159.0 ppm CO (SAE = 0.160), which is 3.18 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm CO.

Issued

Jun 12, 2018

Abate by

Jul 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances C730

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):  Engineering controls were not implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to carbon monoxide in accordance with the schedule in Table Z-1 of 29 CFR 1910.1000:   a. On or about March 9, 2018, employees working in the yard tunnel were exposed to carbon monoxide levels of approximately 159 and 316 parts per million.   Feasible methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:   1. Development and implementation of a regularly scheduled preventive maintenance program for the steam generator, which includes measurement of carbon monoxide levels to ensure the equipment is operating within the parameters listed in the manufacturer's manual.   2. Installation of continuous carbon monoxide monitors equipped with a visual and/or audible alarm in the yard tunnel.