OSHA Inspection: A-OX WELDING SUPPLY CO., INC.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Nov 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $8,500 Reduced

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 were exposed to fire hazards while refilling propane cylinders:     (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from fire hazards related to dissipating electrostatic charges and dispensing 20lb DOT propane cylinders. On May 17, 2018, an employee engaged in the process of filling cylinders placed on an High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pallet was allowing the cylinders to vent as an indication that they were full.  The employee, who was not wearing antistatic or conductive clothing and grounding footwear, walked by the cylinders and his clothing contacted the HDPE pallet and simultaneously contacted the steel propane cylinder creating a static discharge igniting the propane as it vented from the cylinder.  The subsequent fire involving the cylinder spread to adjacent cylinders. This condition exposed the employee to fire and explosion hazards.    Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and accepted means of abatement is to comply with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) booklet entitled, "Static Electricity in the Propane Industry." Recommended practices are listed under Section 5, "Steps to Take to Reduce Static Electricity."     Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 77 -2007, Recommended Practice on Static Electricity, Section 7.4 "Charge Dissipation".    Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 58 -2008, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, Section 7.4.4 "Overfilling", subparagraph 7.4.4.1: "An overfilling prevention device shall not be the primary means to determine when a cylinder is filled to the maximum allowable filling limit.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Nov 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,880 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators were required by the employer:         (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not have a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section.  The program was not established and implemented whenever respirators were required by the employer in that, the employer required the use of a half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator during spray booth operations. An employee was using a half-mask negative pressure respirator with a 3M model 2091 P100 particulate cartridges associated with spray painting oil-based paints.    This hazard exposed the employee to the lack of knowledge of proper respirator use.      Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:         (1)        Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;         (2)        Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;           (3)        Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;           (4)        Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;         (5)        Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;           (6)        Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;         (7)        Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;           (8)        Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and           (9)        Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Feb 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace:         (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace. Employees performed oil-based spray painting as a part of refurbishing cylinders. The employer did not evaluate the respiratory hazard. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of exposure to unknown levels of harmful chemicals associated with oil-based painting.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Nov 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(2): The educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting was not provided to all employees upon initial employment, and at least annually thereafter:    (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire and explosion hazards in that, not all employees received fire extinguisher training on an annual basis. This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Nov 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,880 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder and branch circuit, at its disconnecting  means or over current device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:         (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not ensure each circuit breaker was identified in an electrical panel board located on the north west wall in the facility. Each circuit breaker was not marked to indicate its purpose. This condition exposed the employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Oct 10, 2018

Abate by

Nov 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,880 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:      (a)A-OX Welding Supply Co., Inc. at 101 North Harlem Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104: On or about and at times prior to May 17, 2018, the employer did not ensure that a written hazard communication program which at least described how the criteria specified for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also included a hazardous chemicals list and methods used to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks, had not been developed for employee exposures, such as but not limited, to the following:         (1)PPG White Base Alkyd Enamel - Oil based paint which contains xylene, titanium dioxide, naptha, ethylbenzene, and toluene; and        (2)PPG Neutral Alkyd Enamel Base- Oil based paint which contains xylene, petroleum distillates, naptha, and toluene; and     (3)PPG Bright Yellow Alkyd Enamel- Oil based paint which contains xylene, 2-methoxy-1-methylethyl acetate, Stoddard solvent, and titanium dioxide; and     (4)Startex Xylene     (5)Startex Paint Thinner