OSHA Inspection: SABEL STEEL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,488 · Current $3,018 Reduced

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)  Torch cutting area; On or about May 15, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight fitting half face negative pressure respirator without first being medically evaluated to ensure the employees are medically able to wear a negative pressure respirator.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   a)  Paint Area;  On or about May 15, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight fitting half face negative pressure respirator without first being fit tested.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):  a)  Torch cutting area;  On or about May 15, 2018 and at times prior thereto the employer exposed employees to potential respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight fitting half mask negative pressure respirator without first being provided training as required by the standard.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 June 12, 2018: the employer exposed the employees to noise at levels of 77.4% (equivalent to an 8 hour time weighted average TWA of 88.1 dBA) which is 1.548 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 427 minutes sampling period with a zero concentration assumption for the remaining 53 minutes.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 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 June 12, 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 77.4% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 50% (85 dBa). The equivalent dBa level of 77.4% is approximately 88.1 dBa. The sampling was performed for 427 minutes during one shift on June 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 53 minutes.

Issued

Nov 2, 2018

Abate by

Nov 23, 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) Rebar Cutter:  On or about June 12, 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 77.4% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 50% (85 dBa). The equivalent dBa level of 77.4% is approximately 88.1 dBa. The sampling was performed for 427 minutes during one shift on June 12, 2018. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 53 minutes.