OSHA Inspection: RAINBOW PLASTIC PRODUCTS, RLLLP

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $1,375 Reduced

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) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not develop or implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with this standard. Employees are exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5ug/m3), calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The process involving chromium is the painting of fishing lures. The primer contained zinc and potassium chromates. This process generated chromium (VI) dust. On 6/17/19 one employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.005 mg/m3. The employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration of 0.0141 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA. This is 2.8 times the PEL. Air monitoring was conducted for 356 minutes.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(3): The employer did not designate a program administrator who was qualified by appropriate training or experience to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and to conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness:     (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not assign a program administrator to oversee the respiratory protection program.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 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) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not provide employees with a medical evaluation prior to allowing them to wear tight fitting respirators. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards including but not limited to chromate exposure above the PEL.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not provide employees with a respirator fit test to ensure the selected respirator was effective for employees assigned to wear them. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards including but not limited to chromate exposure above the PEL.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that ensured that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of at least the following elements: Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator; What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are; How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions; How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator; What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator, and How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators:  (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not provide effective information and training to employees regarding the respiratory hazards present at this workplace in accordance with this standard. Chromium based paints and organic solvents are used regularly by employees in the performance of their duties of painting and powder coating fishing lures. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards including but not limited to chromate exposure above the PEL.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5ug/m3), calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA):   (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not ensure that employees were not exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5ug/m3), calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The sampled employee paints fishing lures.  The primer contained zinc and potassium chromates. This process generated chromium (VI) dust. On 6/17/19 one employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.005 mg/m3. The employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration of 0.0141 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA. This is 2.8 times the PEL. Air monitoring was conducted for 356 minutes.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): The employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) at or below the PEL:  (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) at or below the PEL.  Employees paint lures in a partially enclosed spray both. The primer contained zinc and potassium chromates. This process generated chromium (VI) dust. On 6/17/19 one employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.005 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to chromium (VI) at a concentration of 0.0141 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 2.8 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 356 minutes.   Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:  1. Evaluate effectiveness of the ventilation system used in the paint area. Ensure filters are kept clean and that air is effectively drawn out and away from the employee.  Abatement Note:  Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:    1.  Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within exposure limits.    STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (30 DAYS):     2.  Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and /or administrative measures to control employee exposures to the hazardous substance referenced in this citation.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:  a.  Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source; b.  Evaluation of control measure options; c.  Selection of optimum control measures; d.  Determination of control measure design; e.  Ordering and delivery of equipment; f.  Installation of control measures; g.  Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and h.  Assurance of the effective performance of control measures.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.    STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS):     3.  Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (120 DAYS):

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance for chromium (VI) exposures available at no cost to the employees, and/or at a reasonable time and place:    (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not make medical surveillance available to exposed employees in accordance with this standard.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $1,375 Reduced

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):    (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not perform personal air monitoring to determine the 8-hour time weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (IV). This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards including but not limited to exposures to chromium (IV) above the Permissible Exposure Limit.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) was, or could reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit:   (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513:  On 6/17/19, the employer did not establish a regulated area in accordance with this standard. This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards including but not limited to exposures to chromium (IV) above the Permissible Exposure Limit.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $1,705 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(b): The employer did not base selection of appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified:     (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not provide proper gloves to employees after evaluating glove performance characteristics when used with chemicals used in the workplace. Employees were given natural latex exam gloves which melted when exposed to spray gun solvent. This condition exposed employees to skin damage hazards.

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):     (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with this standard. This condition exposed employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to:  -benzene  -xylene  -styrene  -toluene  -acetone  -methyl-ethyl-ketone  -methyl-isobutyl-ketone  -zinc chromate  -potassium chromate  -isocyanates

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:    (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not maintain Safety Data Sheets for each hazardous chemical used in the workplace in accordance with this standard. This condition exposed employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to:  -benzene  -xylene  -styrene  -toluene  -acetone  -methyl-ethyl-ketone  -methyl-isobutyl-ketone  -zinc chromate  -potassium chromate  -isocyanates

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 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) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not provide effective information and training on the chemical hazards associated with their job tasks. This condition exposed employees to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to: -benzene -xylene -styrene -toluene -acetone -methyl-ethyl-ketone -methyl-isobutyl-ketone -zinc chromate -potassium chromate -isocyanates

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(i): 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1): The employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there was exposure to chromium (VI) were provided with information and training as required by the Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200:   (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not provide effective information and training on the hazards associated with exposure to chromium (VI). This condition exposed employees to chromium (VI).

Issued

Aug 13, 2019

Abate by

Sep 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):   (a) Rainbow Plastic Products, RLLLP at 226 Basher Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513: On or before 5/23/19 the employer did not perform the workplace hazard assessment in accordance with this standard.