OSHA Inspection: P & B PARTITIONS INC.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Aug 26, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 007002402150

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tank cars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in CFR 1910.6:  a) Cylinder Storage Area - On or about May 17, 2019, compressed gas cylinders of propane, acetylene, and argon were not secured to prevent falling.  Abatement Note: Reference Compressed Gas Pamphlet P-1-1965, paragraph 63.3.1.9.5.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2270

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(c)(1): All electrical equipment, open flames and other sources of ignition did not conform to the requirements of paragraph (c):  a) Shop Floor - On or about April 24, 2019,  employees were performing spray painting of welded joints with a Category 3 flammable liquid. The spray area was located between 6' to 18.5' from electrical equipment/outlets.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $10,229 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of zinc oxide fume listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 5 mg/m3:  a) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees, who were fabricating (welding) zinc coated partitions were exposed to zinc oxide fume at an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) of 12.35 mg/cubic meter. This exposure was observed occurring over a 438 minute sampling period on 4/17/19. A zero exposure was assumed for the 42 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not reduce the exposure level below the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 5 mg/cubic meter.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Nov 19, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

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) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees, who were fabricating (welding) zinc coated partitions were exposed to zinc oxide fume at an eight hour time weighted average (TWA) of 12.35 mg/cubic meter. This exposure was observed occurring over a 438 minute sampling period on 4/17/19. A zero exposure was assumed for the 42 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not implement administrative or engineering controls to reduce the exposure below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 mg/cubic meter.    ABATEMENT STEPS ARE AS FOLLOW:  STEP 1 - As an interim measure, effective respiratory protection shall be provided to and used by exposed employees until feasible and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.  STEP 2 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1.  Evaluation of engineering control options;    2.  Selection of optimum control method and completion of design;    3.  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;    4.  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Ninety- (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  (The 90 day requirement can be shortened or lengthened by the area director depending on the specific circumstances.)    STEP 3 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:   a) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and wearing a half face negative pressure respirator.  The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and provide appropriate respiratory protection based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker(s) was exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  a) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and were wearing half face negative pressure respirators.  The employer did not provide the respirator in that the employees had to purchase it themselves.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

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) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and wearing a half face negative pressure respirator. The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to ensure employees were medically able to wear the respirator.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   a) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and wearing a half face negative pressure respirator.  The employer did not provide employees with a fit test for the respirator.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  a) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, an employee who was performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions was observed wearing a half face negative pressure respirator while having a beard that interfered with the face to facepiece seal of the respirator.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

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) Welding Area - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and wearing half face negative pressure respirators.  The employer did not require respirators to be cleaned.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This paragraph also requires the employer to provide the basic information on respirators in Appendix D of this section to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.  a) Welding Area - - On or about May 17, 2019, employees were performing fabrication (welding) of zinc coated partitions and wearing half face negative pressure respirators.  The employer did not provide training to employees wearing respirators.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  a) Shop Area - On April 24, 2019, an employee was using a DoAll horizontal band saw where 5 to 6 inches of the unused part of the blade was not guarded.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073115201620

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) Establishment - On or about April 24, 2019, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not limited to; welding wire, containing various metals, zinc from welding and naptha and petroleum distillates from paint.  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain the written Hazard Communication Program.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073115201620

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) Establishment - On or about April 24, 2019, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including but not limited to; welding wire, containing various metals, zinc from welding and naptha and petroleum distillates from paint.  The employer did not provide training for employees on hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Aug 16, 2019

Abate by

Sep 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields:  a) Shop Area - On or about April 24, 2019, the employer did not provide protective welding screens for employees who were exposed to hazardous welding flash (rays) from adjacent work areas.