OSHA Inspection: WESTERN BRONZE, INC.

Issued

May 18, 2021

Abate by

Jul 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $329 · Current $329

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1): The employer did not certify to OSHA, within 10 calendar days after the abatement date, that the cited violation had been abated:  As of May 17, 2021, the employer had not certified that the abatement was completed for Citation 1, items 3a, 3b, and 4, from inspection 1374387, issued on July 16, 2019, with a final order date of August 20, 2019.  The abatement certification for citation 1, items 3a, 3b, and 4 was due on 3/15/2021.

Issued

May 18, 2021

Abate by

Jul 6, 2021

Penalty

Initial $329 · Current $329

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1): The employer did not submit to the Agency documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.  As of May 17, 2021, the employer had not submitted documentation demonstrating that the abatement was completed for Citation 1, items 3a, 3b, and 4, from inspection 1374387, issued on July 16, 2019, with a final order date of August 20, 2019.  The abatement documentation for citation 1, items 3a, 3b, and 4 was due on 3/15/2021.

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $325 · Current $325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(c)(1): The employer did not certify to OSHA, within 10 calendar days after the abatement date, that the cited violation had been abated:  As of May 5, 2020, the employer had not certified that the abatement was completed for Citation 1, items 2a, 2b, 7a and 8, from inspection 1374387, issued on July 16, 2019, with a final order date of August 20, 2019.  a) Abatement certification for citation 1, items 2a, 2b and 8 was due on 4/03/2020  b) Abatement certification for citation 1, item 7a, was due on 1/31/2020

Issued

May 8, 2020

Abate by

Jun 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $325 · Current $325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1): The employer did not submit to the Agency documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.  As of May 5, 2020, the employer had not submitted documentation demonstrating that the abatement was completed for Citation 1, items 2a, 2b, 7a and 8, from inspection 1374387, issued on July 16, 2019, with a final order date of August 20, 2019.  a) Abatement documentation for citation 1, items 2a, 2b and 8 was due on 4/03/2020  b) Abatement documentation for citation 1, item 7a, was due on 1/31/2020

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Aug 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,842 · Current $966 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(3): A complete periodic inspection of crane(s) had not been conducted in the past 12 months:     In the foundry area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA, on and before April 1, 2019, complete periodic inspection of an overhead crane used to lift and manipulate crucibles containing molten metal was not performed.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): An Employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of copper fume (as Cu) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) concentration of 0.1 mg/m3:      In the main foundry area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, an employee melting and pouring copper-containing alloys was exposed to an 8-hour TWA copper fume concentration of 0.238 mg/m3, in excess of the 8-hour TWA permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    In the main foundry area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, an employee melting/pouring copper-based alloys was exposed to an 8-hour TWA copper fume concentration of 0.238 mg/m3, in excess of the 8-hour TWA permissible exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m3, and feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Mar 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(c)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period:    In the grinding room at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield MA: On and before April 1, 2019, the president, performing grinding duties involving manufacturing and processing of lead-containing alloys, was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average airborne lead concentration of 129 ug/m3, 2.49 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 ug/m3.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Mar 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(3)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls:  At the facility located at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, the employer did not establish and implement a written lead compliance plan, specific to this facility, aimed at reducing employee exposure to lead.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Mar 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(4)(i): When ventilation was used to control exposure to lead, measurements which demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in controlling exposure were not made at least every three months:    In the main foundry area and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, the velocities of local ventilation systems used to control airborne exposures to lead were not tested.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Mar 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(d)(6)(iii): Where the initial monitoring revealed that employee exposure to lead was above the permissible exposure limit (PEL); monitoring was not repeated at least quarterly and continued at the required frequency until at least two consecutive measurements taken at least 7 days apart were below the PEL and at or above the action level:    In the grinding room and main foundry Area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, personal air monitoring was not conducted at least quarterly to evaluate employee exposure to airborne lead.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting respirator was fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator and at least annually thereafter:     In the grinding room and main foundry area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, employees required to wear filtering facepiece respirators were not fit test prior to initial use and at least annually thereafter.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(2)(i): The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m) for each employee required by 29 CFR 1910.1025 to use a respirator:  In the foundry and grinding room located at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, the employer did not implement a respiratory protection program covering employees exposed over the action level and/or permissible exposure limit for lead while melting, pouring, cutting and/or grinding lead-based alloys.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

May 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(f)(3)(i)(C): The employer did not provide high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators:  In the foundry and grinding room located at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, the employer did not provide respirators with HEPA filters to employees exposed over the action level and/or permissible exposure limit for lead while melting, pouring, cutting and/or grinding lead-based alloys.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(viii): The employer did not prohibit the removal of lead from protective clothing or equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means which disperses lead into the air.    In the foundry area at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, compressed air is utilized by employees to clean work uniforms after working in lead contaminated areas and at the conclusion of work duties.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(2)(i): Floors and other surfaces where lead accumulates may not be cleaned by the use of compressed air.    In the main foundry and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, compressed air was used to clean up residual dust off of surfaces in areas where lead particles are present.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(2)(ii): Shoveling, sweeping or brushing methods were used to remove lead accumulations where vacuuming or other equally effective methods were available and feasible:    In the main foundry and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA on and before April 1, 2019, shoveling and sweeping were used to clean dust accumulation off of surfaces in areas where lead and lead-containing alloys are melted, poured, cut and ground.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1): All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:    In the lunchroom at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before January 29, 2019, surface wipe samples detected lead on multiple tables in the lunch room which are used by employees during meal breaks.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(4)(iv): Employees entering lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment were not required to remove surface lead dust by vacuuming, downdraft booth, or other cleaning method    In the lunchroom at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA on and before April 1, 2019, employees were required to enter the lunchroom wearing protective work clothing and equipment, in order to access the change rooms, showers and sanitary facilities.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(4)(ii): Lunchroom facilities for employees exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), without regard to the use of respirators, were not provided with a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply:    In the grinding room at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, employees exposed to lead in excess of the PEL were not provided lunchroom facilities with a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $2,048 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(1)(i): A medical surveillance program was not instituted for all employees who were, or could be exposed to lead above the action level for more that thirty days per year:    At the facility located at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, a medical surveillance program was not instituted for employees engaged with melting, pouring, cutting or grinding lead-containing alloys.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(2)(i)(A): The employer did not make available biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every 6 months to each affected employee:  In the Main Foundry Area and Grinding Room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, employees performing melting, pouring, cutting and/or grinding of lead-containing alloys did not have blood lead monitoring performed at the required frequency of every 6 months.    The melting supervisor was found to have an 8-hour TWA lead exposure of 33.3 ug/m3, over the action level.  The cut-off saw operator had an 8-hour TWA lead exposure of 129 ug/m3, over the permissible exposure limit.

Issued

Jul 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 27, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(m)(1): Records of medical evaluations required by 29 CFR 1910.134 were not retained and made available in accordance with 1910.1020:  In the grinding room and main foundry Area at 54 Western Ave, West Springfield, MA: On and before April 1, 2019, records of medical evaluations for required respirator use were not retained by the employer.