OSHA Inspection: MICROBAC LABORATORIES INC.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer did not verify, through written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.  Personal protective equipment was provided to employees for activities including but not limited to weighing and mixing Demi-Fraser Broth in a workplace hazard assessment.  This condition potentially exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer provided employees with filtering facepiece dust masks and negative pressure, tight-fitting, half-face elastomeric air purifying respirators with particulate cartridges for voluntary use but did not provide the users with information contained in Appendix D. This condition potentially exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer provided employees with negative pressure, tight-fitting, half-face elastomeric air purifying respirators with particulate cartridges for voluntary use, while working with fungal spores, but did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained. This condition potentially exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:   (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer did not provide medical evaluations to determine each employee's ability to use a respirator, before employees were allowed to voluntarily use negative pressure, tight-fitting, half-face elastomeric air purifying respirators with particulate cartridges in the workplace.  This condition may allow employees with pre-existing medical conditions to use respirators when they are not physically capable of doing so and may potentially expose them to a respiratory hazard.    Abatement Note: Using a negative pressure, tight-fitting, half-face elastomeric air purifying respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee. "Appendix C to Sec. 1910.134: OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire" contains the mandatory information that employees must complete so that a physician (health care professional) may decide if it is appropriate for the employees to wear a respirator. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer allowed to use a respirator.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer did not develop, implement or maintain at the workplace a site specific written hazard communication program which describes the criteria for Globally Harmonized System labels and safety data sheets.  Employees were potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not limited to the following:  1) Demi-Fraser Broth 2) Ethanol 3) Formaldehyde

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer did not maintain safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace, including, but not limited to Demi-Fraser Broth, Ethanol, and Formaldehyde.

Issued

Feb 27, 2019

Abate by

Apr 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) Microbac Laboratories Inc. at 4750 Nautilus Court South, Unit A, Boulder, CO: On and before February 11, 2019, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.  Employees did not know about the Globally Harmonized System for labeling with hazardous chemicals or safety data sheets. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.