OSHA Inspection: ERIE FORGE AND STEEL, INC.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-02-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5174.00 · Current $3622.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(i)(5)(iv): The employer did not ensure that compressors used to supply breathing air to respirators were constructed and situated so as to have a tag maintained at the compressor containing the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change:  a.) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, the Bullard Series Airline filter on an air compressor line, which was used to supply air to a supplied air respirator, was not tagged with the most recent filter cartridge change date.    b.) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, the Bullard Series Airline filter on an air compressor line, which was used to supply air to a supplied air respirator, was not tagged with the signature of the person authorized by the employer to change sorbent beds and/or filters.   The employer required employees to wear supplied air respirators during blasting operations conducted at the blasting booth.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:  a.) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, and at times prior thereto employer did not provide respiratory protection training for employees required to utilize Bullard, air supplied respirators during blasting operations.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6467.00 · Current $4527.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(iv): Where the most recent exposure monitoring indicated that employee exposures were above the PEL, the employer did not repeat such monitoring within three months of the most recent monitoring:   a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. - The company discontinued sampling of a floor hand when sampling results indicated employee exposure to silica above the permissible exposure level (PEL).  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 66 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations.  The company had not conducted additional monitoring.    b) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. - The company discontinued sampling of a floor hand when sampling results indicated employee exposure to silica above the permissible exposure level (PEL).  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 120 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations.  The company had not conducted additional monitoring.    c) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.- The company discontinued sampling of a floor hand when sampling results indicated employee exposure to silica above the permissible exposure level (PEL).  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 96 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.  The company had not conducted additional monitoring.    d) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.- The company discontinued sampling of a floor hand when sampling results indicated employee exposure to silica above the permissible exposure level (PEL).  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 72 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.  The company had not conducted additional monitoring.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-02-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(6)(i): Within 15 working days after completing an exposure assessment in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, the employer did not individually notify each affected employee in writing of the results of that assessment or post the results in an appropriate location accessible to all affected employees:  a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. - Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 66 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations. The employee was notified in writing on or about September 25, 2018.    b) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. -  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 120 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations.   The employee was notified in writing on or about September 25, 2018.     c) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 96 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.   The employee was notified in writing on or about September 25, 2018.     d) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 72 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.  The employee was notified in writing on or about September 25, 2018.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(6)(ii): Whenever an exposure assessment indicated that employee exposure was above the PEL (permissible exposure level), the employer did not describe in the written notification the corrective action being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL:  a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. - Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 66 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations.      b) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. - Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 120 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during blasting operations.      c) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.- Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 96 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.      d) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.- Monitoring records provided by the company, on or about October 5, 2018,  indicated the floor hand was exposed to 72 ug/m3, as an 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA), on June 25, 2018, during cleaning operations.    Written notifications, provided to employees, did not describe corrective actions being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(ii): The employer failed to post signs at all entrances to regulated areas:  a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc. Blasting Booth - On or about October 5, 2018, and on dates prior thereto, signage was not posted at the blasting booth, where employee exposures to airborne concentrations of respirable silica were in excess of the permissible exposure level.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3880.00 · Current $2716.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, and at times prior thereto, employees worked with and around various types of hazardous chemicals and substances including, but not limited to, Epoxy Resin, Carbon monoxide, and metal dust. The company did not ensure employees were provided with effective information and training on the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):     a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, and at times prior thereto, employees worked with and around respirable crystalline silica during blasting and cleaning operations.  Employer had not provided employees with information and training about the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

2019-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-02-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(ii): The employer did not make a copy of this section readily available without cost to each employee covered by this section:   a) Erie Forge & Steel, Inc.-  On or about October 5, 2018, and at times prior thereto, employees worked with and around respirable crystalline silica during blasting and cleaning operations.  A copy of 1910.1053 was not available for employee use.