OSHA Inspection: OWL ELECTRONICS RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Abate by

Jan 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,416 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees  a) Grinding Area: The primary air material separator (cyclone) after the initial grinder was located inside the building and lacked means of explosion protection, deflagration propagation protection (isolation) to the upstream process, fire protection, and lacked means to prevent transmission of smoke, flame, and pressure effects from a deflagration or fire, on or about July 17, 2019.    b) Zigzag Separator: The air material separator (cyclone) prior to the zigzag separator was located inside the building and lacked means of explosion protection, deflagration propagation protection (isolation) to the upstream process, fire protection, and lacked means to prevent transmission of smoke, flame, and pressure effects from a deflagration or fire, on or about July 17, 2019.      Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement include following the guidance of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards such as, but not limited to, the following: NFPA 68 - Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code, NFPA 654 - Standard for the Prevention of Fire and the Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, and AMCA 99-0401-86  Classification for Spark Resistant Construction.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Abate by

Jan 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $2,416 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:   a) Saltwater Tanks: An employee, Production Operator, was exposed to continuous noise at 130.0% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 91.8 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 390 minute sampling period on June 5, 2019. The employer did not train each employee about the effects of noise, information about the hearing protectors provided, or audiometric testing, on or about June 5, 2019.   b) Facility wide: An employee, Manager, was exposed to continuous noise at 95.01% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 89.6 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 455 minute sampling period on June 5, 2019. The employer did not train each employee about the effects of noise, information about the hearing protectors provided, or audiometric testing, on or about June 5, 2019.     c) Separation Area: An employee, Production Supervisor, was exposed to continuous noise at 70.4% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 87.4 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 390 minute sampling period on June 5, 2019. The employer did not train each employee about the effects of noise, information about the hearing protectors provided, or audiometric testing, on or about June 5, 2019.     ABATEMENT NOTE:  Employees shall be informed of the following:  1. The effects of noise on hearing.  2. The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care.  3. The purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of the test procedures.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Abate by

Nov 21, 2019

Penalty

Initial $1,449 · Current $1,200 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) Facility wide: Employees were required to wear 3M filtering facepiece respirators or 3M half face elastomeric respirators and the employer did not establish a written respiratory protection program, on or about May 16, 2019.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 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) Facility wide: Employees were required to wear 3M filtering facepiece respirators or 3M half face elastomeric respirators and the employer did not provide employees with a medical evaluation prior to use of the respirator, on or about May 16, 2019.  ABATEMENT NOTE:  The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 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) Facility wide: Employees were required to wear 3M filtering facepiece respirators or 3M half face elastomeric respirators and the employer did not provide employees with a fit test prior to use of the respirator, on or about May 16, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii) for employees who were required to wear respirators:  a) Facility wide: Employees were required to wear 3M filtering facepiece respirators or 3M half face elastomeric respirators and the employer did not provide employees with the required information about respirator use such as cleaning and maintenance, on or about May 16, 2019.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Abate by

Nov 21, 2019

Penalty

Initial $1,449 · Current $1,200 Reduced

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) Facility wide: Employees handled various chemicals throughout the facility and the employer did not implement or maintain a written hazard communication program, on or about May 16, 2019.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use  a) Facility wide: Employees handled various chemicals throughout the facility and the employer did not maintain safety data sheets for all chemicals in the facility, on or about May 16, 2019.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 17, 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) Facility wide: Employees handled various chemicals throughout the facility and the employer did not inform employees about the hazards of the chemicals they were using, how to protect themselves from those hazards, and where the safety data sheets were located, on or about May 16, 2019.    ABATEMENT NOTE: Employees shall be informed of the following:  1.  The requirements of this section; 2.  Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present; 3.  The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and Safety Data Sheets.    Employee training shall include at least: 1.  Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemical in the work area.  2.  The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area. 3.  The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures and personal, protective equipment to be used. 4.  The details of the employer's Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by the employer; Safety Data Sheets, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.