OSHA Inspection: SPRING CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2415.00 · Current $1449.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0685068907201840

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ii): The written program did not contain provisions for medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators:   a.On or about February 10, 2019, and at times prior, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program that contained provisions for medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators.  Employees were required to wear full face elastomeric respirators during thermal spray booth cleaning using compressed air and were exposed to hazardous chemical including but not limited to Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium (VI).

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0685068907201840

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(iii): The written program did not contain fit test procedures for tight-fitting respirators:   a.On or about February 5, 2019, and at times prior, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program that contained fit test procedures for tight-fitting respirators.  Employees were required to wear full face elastomeric respirators during thermal spray booth cleaning using compressed air and were exposed to hazardous chemical including but not limited to Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium (VI).

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2415.00 · Current $1449.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(a)(4)(ii): All sweepings, solid or liquid wastes, refuse and garbage was not removed in such a manner as to avoid creating a menace to health and as often as necessary or appropriate to maintain the place of employment in a sanitary condition:    a.  On or about February 10, 2019, in building 3001, buckets, brooms, and dust pans used to clean thermal spray booths were not covered or enclosed to contain thermal spray debris when the equipment was brought out of thermal spray booths.  Employees were exposed to thermal spray debris which contained hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Cobalt, Nickel, and Chromium which were irritants, sensitizers, and/or suspect carcinogens.

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(iii): Chromium (VI)-contaminated protective clothing or equipment was removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal; however, the employer did not ensure that it was stored and transported in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers:   a.  On or about February 5, 2019, at the tool crib, gloves containing Chromium (VI) were stored in an open bag and were not stored to prevent contamination with hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Chromium (VI).

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(iv): The employer did not ensure that cleaning equipment was handled in a manner that minimized the reentry of chromium (VI) into the workplace:     a.On or about February 5, 2019, at the mezzanine, cleaning equipment contaminated with Chromium (VI) including but not limited to brooms, dust pans, and a HEPA vacuum were not decontaminated, covered, or enclosed to minimize the re-entry of Chromium (VI) into the workplace.    b.On or about February 10, 2019, at thermal spray booths, buckets, brooms, and dust pans contaminated with Chromium (VI) were not decontaminated, covered, or enclosed to minimize the re-entry of Chromium (VI) into the work place when the equipment was brought out of thermal spray booths.

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2415.00 · Current $1449.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0685068907201840

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(d)(2)(i): An employee was exposed to Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium VI listed in the Z tables in excess of the cumulative exposure limit:        a.  On or about February 10, 2019, during thermal spray booth cleaning an employee's 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) exposures were approximately as follows:         1.  Chromium 0.030 mg/3,      2.  Chromium (VI) 0.001 mg/3,      3.  Cobalt 0.066 mg/3, and      4.  Nickel 0.455 mg/m3.  The employees equivalent exposure for the mixture of Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium (VI) was approximately 1.34 which exceeds the cumulative exposure limit of 1.  The personal air monitoring consisted of an 81 min sampling period on 2/10/2019.  The remaining un-sampled time of 399 minutes was included in the 8-hour TWA for Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium (VI) as a zero exposure period.

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0685068907201840

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):    a.  On or about February 10, 2019, at thermal spray booths, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not first determined and implemented for cleaning of thermal spray booths which includes but is not limited to the following:              1.    HEPA vacuuming thermal spray debris, and      2.    Wet wipe of thermal spray debris.    During thermal spray booth cleaning using compressed air an employees equivalent exposure for the mixture of Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, and Chromium (VI) was approximately 1.34 which exceeds the cumulative exposure limit of 1.

Issued

2019-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI).  The employer is to make this determination in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2), the scheduled monitoring option, or paragraph (d)(3), the performance-oriented option.    a.  On or about February 10, 2019 and at times prior, at thermal spray booths, the employer did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to Chromium (VI) for employees who cleaned thermal spray booths which exposes them to Chromium (VI).