OSHA Inspection: KAISER ALUMINUM

Issued

Jul 20, 2018

Abate by

Aug 24, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,239 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(d)(7):  Exposure monitoring. Additional monitoring. Whenever there has been a production, process, control or personnel change which may result in new or additional exposure to lead, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposures to lead, additional monitoring in accordance with this paragraph shall be conducted.  On or about March 21, 2018, the employer failed to perform additional exposure monitoring following a change in production, process and control that resulted in additional exposure to lead. The employer installed a screw conveyor for material delivery into the lead hopper storage container, eliminated the previous lead hopper storage container and changed to a different storage location on the hopper platform, disbanded the use of the screw conveyor and returned to filling the lead hopper through the use of a crane and eliminated the use of "the spike" to pierce the lead material bag. Due to these changes, employees had exposure to lead while standing on the platform and opening the lead containing bag, when the lead material bag contents were emptied into the lead hopper.

Issued

Jul 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h): Employee information and training.   29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3): Training. Employee training shall include at least:  29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area;  On or about March 21, 2018, the employer failed to perform training in the specific health hazards of lead for employees who performed "fireman" duties that involved filling the lead hopper. Employees who performed this required task had exposure to lead dust with the associated inhalation and ingestion hazards that included damage to blood-forming, nervous and reproductive systems, as well as increased risk for cancer.

Issued

Jul 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h): Employee Information and training.  29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3): Training. Employee training shall include at least:  29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and,  On or about March 21, 2018, the employer failed to perform training in the specific procedures and work practices employees, who performed "fireman" duties that involved filling the lead hopper, can use to protect themselves from exposure to lead dust. Employees who performed this required task had exposure to lead dust with the associated inhalation and ingestion hazards that included damage to blood-forming, nervous and reproductive systems, as well as increased risk for cancer.

Issued

Jul 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,239 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f) Labels and other forms of warning--  29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): Workplace labeling. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(7) and (f)(8) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either:  29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): 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, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.  On or about March 21, 2018, the employer failed to ensure the lead hopper used for storage of lead used for a furnace injection process was labeled with the hazard information required by this part.  Labeling information on the safety data sheet provided by the chemical supplier included six hazard statements, 13 precautionary statements, a signal word and three pictograms in addition to the GHS ratings. The lead hopper was marked with a sign that did not comply with this part. Lead dust associated with filling the lead hopper posed inhalation and ingestion hazards that included reproductive and carcinogenic hazards for "firemen" performing this task.

Issued

Jul 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7): The employer may use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other such written materials in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers, as long as the alternative method identifies the containers to which it is applicable and conveys the information required by paragraph (f)(6) of this section to be on a label. The employer shall ensure the written materials are readily accessible to the employees in their work area throughout each work shift.  On or about March 21, 2018, the employer failed to ensure the lead hopper was labeled with the hazard information required by this part. Additionally the employer did not use alternative written materials such as signs, placards, batch tickets, process sheets or operating procedures to identify the lead hopper hazard information in the work area throughout each shift.  The lead hopper stored lead that was used for an injection process for the #3 Casting cell melt furnace. The safety data sheet the lead hopper used for storage of lead used for the injection process for the #3 Casting cell melt furnace was labeled with the hazard information required by this part.  Labeling information on the safety data sheet provided by the chemical supplier included six hazard statements, 13 precautionary statements, a signal word and three pictograms in addition to the GHS classification ratings. The lead hopper was marked with a sign that did not comply with this part. Lead dust associated with filling the lead hopper posed inhalation and ingestion hazards that included reproductive and carcinogenic hazards for "firemen" performing this task.