OSHA Inspection: GEO-TECH POLYMERS, LLC

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $4,959 · Current $2,975 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

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)  On or about February 22, 2019 the employer had not implemented the applicable elements of the written respiratory protection program to ensure that employees who wore tight fitting respirators on a voluntary basis were protected and trained as required by this standard.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

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)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator had not been provided with a medical evaluation before being provided with a Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator for voluntary use.       In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): Respirators were not cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of 29 CFR 1910.134 or equivalent procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer.    (a)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator explained that they cleaned their Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator with compressed air that was measured at 100 p.s.i.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide training and the basic information in Appendix D of this section for employees provided respirators for voluntary use:    (a)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator who was provided a Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator for voluntary use was not aware that a full beard would interfere with the face to facepiece seal of the respirator.     (b)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator who was provided with a Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator for voluntary use had not been trained in the use, care and maintenance of respirators.    (c)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator explained that they cleaned their Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator with compressed air that was measured at 100 p.s.i.    (d)  On or about February 22, 2019 an extruder operator stored their Honeywell 5500-30L tight fitting facepiece respirator in a drawer in the extruder area, without any protective containers to prevent damage or contamination.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(1): Evaluations of the workplace were not conducted to ensure the written respiratory protection program was being effectively implemented:    (a)  The employer's written respiratory protection program did not address voluntary use of respirators in the workplace.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.

Issued

Apr 22, 2019

Abate by

May 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,199 · Current $3,719 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    (a)  On February 22, 2019 the air hose in the extruder area that employees used for cleaning measured 100 p.s.i.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence, or written records.