OSHA Inspection: NORAG LLC

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,720 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3): Walking-working surfaces were not maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.        a.  On or about November 29, 2018, elevator, metal toeboards in front of stairs to the train belt tunnel exposed employees to trip hazards.    b.  On or about November 28, 2018, elevator truck bay, a platform floor hole which was greater than 2 inches in its least dimension exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.     c.  On or about November 28, 2018, elevator, a hole greater than 2 inches in its least dimension between the last stair tread and a toeboard exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jun 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i): (3) Holes.  The employer must ensure: (i) Each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following:*(A) Covers;*(B) Guardrail systems;*(C) Travel restraint systems; or*(D) Personal fall arrest systems.       a.  On or about November 28, 2018, elevator truck bay, a platform floor hole which was greater than 2 inches in its least dimension exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.     b.  On or about November 28, 2018, elevator, a hole greater than 2 inches in its least dimension between the last stair tread and a toeboard exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,720 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(2): Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction was not at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm), as measured from the leading edge of the tread. Spiral stairs must meet the vertical clearance requirements in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.      a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the elevator, stairs to the train belt tunnel had a stair tread with a vertical clearance from the ceiling that was less than 6 feet and 8 inches as measured from the leading edge of the tread, and exposed employees to struck-by injuries.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.25(b)(5)(i): When a door or gate opens directly on a stairway, a platform was not provided and/or the platform did not provide a useable depth greater or equal to 20 inches.       a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the elevator, useable platform depth greater or equal to 20 inches was not provided between the gate and the stairs that lead to the train belt.  Employees were exposed to trip and fall hazards at the stairs.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(11)(ii): Each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers was not equipped with stair rail systems and handrails in accordance with Table D-2, Stairway Handrail Requirements.    a. On or about November 29, 2018, at the elevator, the first stairway to the train belt tunnel lacked stair rail protection at an open side.  The first stairway was less than 44 inches in width, had at least 3 treads and 4 risers, and exposed employees to fall hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members were not installed between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system as follows when there is not a wall or parapet that is at least 21 inches (53 cm) high.      a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the elevator, the guardrail around the stairway floor opening lacked a section of midrail and exposed employees to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level.    b.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator by the train tracks, the stair platform lacked a section of the guardrail and exposed employees to falls near train tracks.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(f)(4): Openings in a stair rail system exceeded 19 inches at its least dimension.   a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator by the train tracks, stair rail openings were greater than 19 inches in their least dimension and exposed employees to fall hazards near train tracks.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(iv): The written program did not contain procedures for the use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations.      a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator, the written respiratory protection program did not contain procedures on proper use of respirators including, but not limited to respirator facepiece seal protection.  Employees with facial hair wore air-purifying respirators for exposure to crystalline silica.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B)(1): The employer did not select a respirator for employee use that maintained the employee's exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the maximum use concentration.      a.  On or about November 30, 2018, elevator boot pit, the maximum use concentration for a half mask air purifying respirator and respirable crystalline silica, 500 ug/m3, was exceeded when an employee cleaned frac sand from the boot pit. This exposed the employee to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested.      a.  On or about November 30, 2018, for elevator work, an annual respirator fit test was not provided to an employee who wore a half mask tight-fitting respirator and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the OSHA PEL when cleaning frac sand spills in the boot pit.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function.    a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator boot pit, an employee had facial hair at the sealing surface of the tight-fitting half mask respirator.  The employee wore the respirator in the boot pit to clean frac sand spills and was exposed to crystalline silica in excess of the OSHA PEL.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.      a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator boot pit, an employee's personal 8-hour time-weighted average (8-Hr TWA) exposure to respirable crystalline silica was 84 ug/m3.  This exceeded the OSHA 8-Hr TWA PEL of 50 ug/m3 for respirable crystalline silica by 1.7 times.  The personal air monitoring consisted of 1 sample collected during a 36 minute sampling period on 11/30/2018 that included the task of cleaning sand from the boot pit with a shop vacuum.  The remaining time of 444 minutes was included in the 8-Hr TWA as a zero exposure period.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(i): In representative sampling, the employer did not sample the employee(s) who were expected to have the highest exposure to respirable crystalline silica.         a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica when the employer did not perform initial respirable crystalline silica air monitoring during all employees tasks including, but not limited to cleaning frac sand from the boot pit and train belt tunnel.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan.      a.  On or about November 28, 2019, at the elevator, the employer did not implement their written respirable crystalline silica exposure control plan that requires the use of HEPA-filtered vacuum methods for cleaning frac sand spills. This exposes employees to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(A): The exposure control plan did not contain a  description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica.       a.  On or about November 28, 2019, for the elevator, the employer's written respirable crystalline silica exposure control plan did not contain tasks involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica including, but not limited to cleaning frac sand from the boot pit and train belt tunnel which exposes employees to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(B): The exposure control plan did not contain a description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task.      a.  On or about November 28, 2019, for the elevator, the employer's written respirable crystalline silica exposure control plan did not contain work practice controls for boot pit cleaning including, but not limited to restricting operation of elevator legs when an employee is in the boot pit which exposes employees to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,958 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(c)(10)(iv): Snaphooks and carabiners must not be connected to a horizontal life line unless they are designed for such connections.    a. On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator truck bay, a snaphook for personal fall arrest was directly connected to a horizontal life line and exposed an employee to falls greater than 4 feet to a lower level.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.140(d)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that personal fall arrest systems were rigged in such as manner that the employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact a lower level.       a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator truck bay, employees were exposed to a fall hazard when the employer did not ensure that the lanyard selected for use was of a length that would prevent contact with the concrete floor.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.   a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the elevator, the employer did not inform employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence, location of, and the danger posed by permit spaces.  This exposes employees to potentially hazardous atmospheres, falls, slips, trips, caught-by hazards, struck-by hazards, and air borne dusts that obscure vision:      1.    Boot pit, and   2.    Head pulley area.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(4)(i): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide, at no cost to the employees, testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5).     a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator, the employer did not provide air testing equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5).  Employees entered the boot pit and head pulley area were exposed to potentially hazardous atmospheres, falls, slips, trips, caught-by hazards, struck-by hazards, and air borne dusts that obscure vision.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(3)(i): Each authorized entrant did not use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant's back near shoulder level, or above the entrant's head.    a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator, the employer did not require an employee, who made entry into the boot pit, to use a chest or full body harness with retrieval line attached. This exposed the employee to potentially hazardous atmospheres, falls, slips, trips, and air borne dusts that obscure vision.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146.         a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator, employees were exposed to potentially hazardous atmospheres, falls, slips, trips, caught-by hazards, struck-by hazards, and air borne dusts that obscure vision, when the employer re-classified permit spaces to non-permit spaces without eliminating all of the hazards of the space and did not develop and implement an adequate written permit space entry program. The entry of spaces included, but not limited to the following:       1.    Boot pit, and   2.    Head pulley area.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Sep 4, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer did not provide training so that all employees whose work was regulated by 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit required confined spaces) acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146.      a.  On or about November 30, 2018, for work at the elevator, employees were not trained to acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for safe performance of the duties assigned under 29 CFR 1910.146.  Employees entered the boot pit and head pulley area and were exposed to potentially hazardous atmospheres, falls, slips, trips, caught-by hazards, struck-by hazards, and air borne dusts that obscure vision.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.   a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the train belt tunnel, unguarded in-going nip points at the train belt conveyor and the conveyor head pulley exposed employees to caught-by hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o).      a.  On or about November 29, 2018, at the train belt conveyor, there was no guard for two pulleys that were less than 7 feet from the tunnel floor.  Employees were exposed to amputation and caught-by hazards from unguarded pulleys.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o)(a) of this section.   a.  On or about November 29, 2018, at the train belt conveyor motor, there was no guard for two vertical belts that were less than 7 feet from the tunnel floor.  Employees were exposed to amputation and caught-by hazards from unguarded vertical belts.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i).   a.  On or about November 30, 2018, at the elevator electrical room, the cover was not installed at an electrical box for a motor starter that had live parts and exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(ii): In locations where electric equipment was likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards were not so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage.    a.  On or about November 28, 2018, at the train belt tunnel, a ceiling light fixture did not have a bulb cover and exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 10, 2019

Abate by

Jul 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(c)(4): Snap switches mounted in boxes did not have faceplates installed so as to completely cover the opening and seat against the finished surface.    a. On or about November 30, 2018, office store room, a wall mounted light switch did not have a faceplate and exposed employees to electrical hazards.   b.  On or about November 30, 2018, tool room, a wall mounted light switch did not have a faceplate and exposed employees to electrical hazards.