OSHA Inspection: WESTPORT AXLE CORP.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Jun 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $11,083 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii): Where mobile test vans were used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level:    a) Westport Axle - G-7 Chassis Line - On or about February 14, 2019, an employee working on the chassis assembly line using an engraver and pneumatic impact guns, was exposed to a continuous noise at 76.7% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.0 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 434 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 46 minutes not sampled.  The employer, who utilized a mobile test van in the past, did not conduct valid baseline audiograms within 365 days of the employees first exposure at or above the action level.      b) Westport Axle - H-7 Chassis Line - On or about February 14, 2019, an employee working on the chassis assembly line using an engraver and pneumatic impact guns, was exposed to a continuous noise at 83.7% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.7 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 420 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 60 minutes not sampled.  The employer, who utilized a mobile test van in the past, did not conduct valid baseline audiograms within 365 days of the employees first exposure at or above the action level.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Jun 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :     a) Westport Axle - G-7 Chassis Line - On or about February 14, 2019, an employee working on the chassis assembly line using an engraver and pneumatic impact guns, was exposed to a continuous noise at 76.7% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.0 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 434 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 46 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not conduct annual audiograms within 365 days since employees last audiograms.      b) Westport Axle - H-7 Chassis Line - On or about February 14, 2019, an employee working on the chassis assembly line using an engraver and pneumatic impact guns, was exposed to a continuous noise at 83.7% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 88.7 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 420 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 60 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not conduct annual audiograms within 365 days since employees last audiograms.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Jun 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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):    a) Westport Axle - Chassis Lines - On or about February 14, 2019, employees working on chassis assembly lines using an engravers and pneumatic impact guns, were exposed to a continuous noise at or above 76.7% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposures at or above 88.0 dBA.  The sampled exposure occurred over a 434 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 46 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not conduct initial and annual training as required.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Jun 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,440 · Current $4,263 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2150

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(o)(1): Load(s) on powered industrial truck(s) were not stable or safely arranged:    a)  Westport Axle - On or about February 14, 2019, an employee, a forklift driver, was transporting an unsecured, full, propane, forklift cylinder on the forks of a forklift, exposing employees to struck-by and burn injuries from fire and explosion.      Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 5, 2019

Abate by

Jun 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,831 · Current $2,654 Reduced

Hazardous substances 20372270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:    a) Westport Axle - On or about February 4, 2019, employees were utilizing LPS Hard Coat, a hazardous chemical, to coat front axle hubs to prevent oxidation of the metal.  Employees on various shifts were utilizing this chemical from an unlabeled quart container exposing the employees to chemical hazards of the skin and eyes.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.