OSHA Inspection: MW INDUSTRIES, INC. DBA MOHAWK SPRING CORPORATION

Issued

2018-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10163.00 · Current $5150.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

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 were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees  in that employees working indoors at or near a cartridge dust collector collecting metal dust were exposed to associated fire hazards during system operation as the exhaust air was being discharged directly into the work area:    a) MW Industries, Inc. dba Mohawk Spring Corporation, Schiller Park, IL- On May 3, 2018, the Donaldson Torit Oval cartridge dust collector (model # DF03-018) labeled "C" used to collect a mixture of carbon and stainless steel dust from an upstream automated grinding operation exhausted filtered air directly into the work area.  Employees working inside the building were exposed to the hazardous byproducts of an internal dust collector fire (i.e. smoke, toxic gases, embers, flames, etc. from burning metal dust and/or filter media) as a result of the exhausting of filtered air into the building.       Among other methods, one feasible means of abatement would be to follow the guidance in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 484 Standard for Combustible Metals, 2015 ed.  Sections 9.4.13.11 and 9.4.13.15.7.5 (recycling of exhaust air) and prohibit the recycling of exhaust air from dry-type dust collectors into the buildings by exhausting directly outdoors to a safe location, away from any air intakes.

Issued

2018-10-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-12-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10163.00 · Current $5000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employees were not trained on 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:    a) MW Industries, Inc. dba Mohawk Spring Corporation, Schiller Park, IL-  On May 3, 2018, the employer' did not ensure that the hazard communication training included the hazards of combustible metal dust generated from the grinding operation in the work area.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

2018-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $30487.00 · Current $5000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0040043091309135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    a) MW Industries dba Mohawk Spring Corporation, Schiller Park, IL-  On May 3, 2018, the employer did not provide medical evaluations for employee(s) performing spray painting to determine the employee's ability to use the respirator. The employee(s) were required to use a Sperian half face respirator with combination organic vapor/HEPA filters while spray painting.      MW Industries, Inc. dba Engineered Spring Products was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1),  which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1275006, citation number 1, item number 3c, and was affirmed as a final order on February 2, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 7400 Pinemont, Houston, Texas, 77040.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.