OSHA Inspection: OWENS CORNING ROOFING AND ASPHALT, LLC

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,577 · Current $4,000 Reduced

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) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not reassess the workplace to determine if hazards were present or likely to be present, which necessitated the use of PPE after the asphalt surge tank and coater system were reengineered, equipment was changed, and solid asphalt clogs began to form in the pipes within the system. Employees used pressurized steam to unclog pipes between a hot asphalt surge tank and coating system but the employer had not assessed asphalt splash hazards associated with introducing water to the surge tank, containing asphalt heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This condition resulted in four employees being exposed to hot asphalt splash hazards and suffering multiple skin burns.      (b) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present or likely to be present, which necessitated the use of PPE. Employees used pressurized steam to unclog pipes between a hot asphalt surge tank and coating system but the employer had not assessed the hazard of using a pressurized steam system. During the application of steam to a clogged pipe, the steam line became clogged with asphalt. Employees decoupled the steam line from the pipe system and attempted to clear the steam line blockage, while the line was pressurized at 80 pounds per square inch. This condition potentially exposed employees to struck-by hazards from solid asphalt particles and burn hazards from steam.      Abatement Note:  When then employer has determined that hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:  (1)  Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;  (2)  Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and,  (3)  Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.  (4)  The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  (5)  Defective and damaged equipment. Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.   (6)  The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE. Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:        (a)  When PPE is necessary;        (b)  What PPE is necessary;        (c)  How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE;        (d)  The limitations of the PPE; and,  (7)  Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training specified in paragraph (1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.   (8)  When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (2) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:        (a)  Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or        (b)  Changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete; or        (c)  Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.  (9)  The employer shall verify that each affected employee has received and understood the required training through a written certification that contains the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of training, and that identifies the subject of the certification.  (10) Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section apply only to 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, and 1910.138. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section do not apply to 1910.134 and 1910.137.    Note: Non-mandatory Appendix B contains an example of procedures that would comply with the requirement for a hazard assessment.

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:    (a) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not ensure that four employees used appropriate face protection when working with steam to unclog pipes on an asphalt surge tank and coating system. Employees were potentially exposed to splash hazards from liquid asphalt that was heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, when water was introduced to the surge tank and the asphalt erupted from the top of the tank. This condition resulted four employees being exposed to hot asphalt splash hazards and suffering skin burns on their faces.       (b) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not ensure that four employees used appropriate face protection, when working with steam to unclog pipes on an asphalt surge tank and coating system. During the application of steam to a clogged pipe, the steam line became clogged with asphalt. Employees decoupled the steam line from the pipe system and attempted to clear the steam line blockage. Employees did not wear face protection and were potentially exposed to face burn and struck-by hazards from steam and solid asphalt particles, while trying to unclog a steam line, which was pressurized at 80 pounds per square inch.

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,472 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    (a) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer developed and documented but did not utilize procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy, when employees were working with steam to unclog pipes on an asphalt surge tank and coating system. Employees were exposed to splash hazards from liquid asphalt that was heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, when water was introduced to the surge tank from the clog steaming operation and the asphalt erupted from the top of the tank. The suction valve at the bottom of the tank and the downstream asphalt pump were not locked out to prevent the introduction of water into the bottom of the surge tank. This condition resulted in four employees being exposed to hot asphalt splash hazards and each suffering multiple skin burns.       (b) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer developed and documented but did not utilize procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy, when employees were working with steam to unclog pipes on an asphalt surge tank and coating system. During the application of steam to a clogged pipe, the steam line became clogged with asphalt. Employees decoupled the steam line from the pipe system and attempted to clear the steam line blockage. The steam system was not locked out and de-energized prior to employees attempting to clear solid asphalt from the steam line. This condition potentially exposed employees to burn and struck-by hazards from steam and solid asphalt particles in the steam line, which was pressurized at 80 pounds per square inch.

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Authorized employee(s) did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation:  (a) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not train the supervisor and did not effectively train three authorized employees on the machine specific, energy control procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy with machines or equipment for work activities associated with clearing asphalt clogs in pipes with steam, when the clogs formed within the asphalt surge tank and coater system. Machines and equipment in the system requiring lock out included but were not limited to the asphalt surge tank suction valve, asphalt pump, and steam system. These conditions potentially exposed employees to steam burn hazards and solid asphalt struck-by hazards from the steam line system and exposed employees to burn splash hazards from hot liquid asphalt in the surge tank, resulting in each employee suffering multiple skin burns.

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,577 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer used written materials, such as signs, placards, process sheets, or batch tickets in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers that failed to identify the container(s) to which they were applicable and did not convey the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5):    (a) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemicals contained within. An asphalt surge tank with Crosslinked Polymer Modified Asphalt and an oil container with Hydrolene SP125 in the coater area were not identified with a globally harmonized system hazard communication labels. This condition potentially exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Aug 30, 2019

Abate by

Oct 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  (a) Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC at 5201 Fox St., Denver, CO: On and around June 18, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees were provided with effective information and training about the physical hazards of combining water and hot asphalt in the surge tank. This condition exposed four employees to hot asphalt splash hazards and resulted in four employees, suffering multiple skin burns, when water was introduced to the bottom of an asphalt surge tank and hot asphalt, heated at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, erupted from the surge tank.