OSHA Inspection: PUGH STEEL FABRICATORS, INC.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $2,772 · Current $1,552 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 1910.95(c)(1) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a) Facility: On or about April 11, 2018: the employer exposed the employees to noise at levels of 97.8% (equivalent to an 8 hour time weighted average TWA of 89.8 dBA) which is 1.956 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 hour TWA of 85dBA) while working in the fabrication area.  Results were calculated for a 469 minutes sampling period with a zero concentration assumption for the remaining 11 minutes.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    a) fabrication area: On or about April 11, 2018: an employee working in the fabrication area was exposed to continuous noise at a levels exceeding the Action Level of 85 dBa TWA and the employer had not developed a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise. An employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 97.8% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 50% (85 dBa). The equivalent dBa level of 97.8% is approximately 89.8 dBa. The sampling was performed for 469 minutes during one shift on April 11, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 11 minutes.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 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 of 85 decibels:     a)   Facility: On or about April 11, 2018: employee(s) working in the facility were exposed to continuous noise at a level exceeding the Action Level of 85 dBa TWA and the employer did not establish an audiometric testing program to evaluate the employees hearing. An employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 97.8% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 50% (85 dBa). The equivalent dBa level of 97.8% is approximately 89.8 dBa. The sampling was performed for 469 minutes during one shift on April 11, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 11 minutes.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 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 of 85 decibels 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.    a) Facility:  On or about April 11, 2018; the employer failed to ensure employees working in the fabrication area with noise exposures over the action level were provided with training on the effects of noise, purpose of hearing protection and audiometric testing. An employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 97.8% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 50% (85 dBa). The equivalent dBa level of 97.8% is approximately 89.8 dBa. The sampling was performed for 469 minutes during one shift on April 11, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 11 minutes.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $1,663 · Current $1,552 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:    a)  Facility: On or about April 11, 2018: Employer did not have a written hazard communication program detailing the hazards of chemicals such as but not limited to Carbon Steel, Paint and welding gasses the employees working in the shop were required to work with or around.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use  a)  Facility: On or about April 11, 2018; the employer exposed employees to hazards related to chemicals used on site including but not limited to Carbon Steel, Paint and welding gasses without ensuring SDS (safety data sheets) were maintained and available.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 12, 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.     a)  Facility: On or about April 11, 2018; the employer exposed employees to hazards related to chemicals used on site including but not limited to Carbon Steel, Paint and welding gasses without training employees in the required elements of the hazard communication standard including those element required under the global harmonization revisions to the standard.

Issued

Aug 23, 2018

Abate by

Sep 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  a)  Facility;  On or about April 10, 2018 the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees were allowed to wear dust masks without first being provided the information in Appendix D as required by the standard.