OSHA Inspection: CLEVELAND BROTHERS INC.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,711 · Current $7,711

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 tankcars, 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) Cleveland Brothers Welding Area - The employer did not ensure that welding gasses such as but not limited to the argon cylinders were secured, on or about July 25, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,711 · Current $7,711

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.124(h)(4): Employees working with chromic acid were not provided with periodic examinations of their exposed body parts, especially their nostrils:  (a) Chrome Plating Department - On or about July 25, 2019, employees working in the chrome plating department use chromic acid in the dipping process and the employer did not provide periodic examination their body parts and nostrils.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $9,639

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) Cleveland Brothers Welding Area - The employer did not provide medical evaluations for employees who are required to wear Miller PAPRs for overexposures to hexavalent chromium on or about July 25, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  (a) Cleveland Brothers Welding Area - The employer did not provide respirator training to employees who are required to wear PAPR respirators to protect against overexposures to hexavalent chromium,  on or about July 25, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Oct 28, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(e): Where employees were required by a particular standard to wear protective clothing because of the possibility of contamination with toxic materials, the employer did not provide change rooms equipped with storage facilities for street clothing:    (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not ensure that change rooms were set up with separate facilities for street clothing and protective clothing to prevent cross-contamination, on or about July 25, 2019.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Oct 28, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(2): The employer did not ensure that a change room at a worksite with chromium (VI) exposures was equipped with separate storage facilities for protective clothing and equipment and for street clothing:    (a) Cleveland Brothers change areas - The employer did not provide a change room with separate facilities for work clothing and street clothing to prevent cross-contamination to chromium VI, on or about July 25, 2019.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:      (a) Cleveland Brothers Plating Area- The employer did not provide quick drenching showers for employees exposed to chromic acid solutions while chrome plating rods and cylinders, on or about July 25, 2019.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(3)(i): Readily accessible washing facilities capable of removing chromium (VI) from the skin were not provided by the employer at a worksite with chromium (VI) exposures:  (a) Cleveland Brothers Plating Area- The employer did not provide quick drenching showers for employees exposed to chromic acid solutions while plating rods and cylinders, on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(3)(ii): The employer did not ensure that employees who had skin contact with chromium (VI) wash their hands and faces at the end of the work shift and/or prior to eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not ensure that employees wash their hands and faces prior to performing tasks such as eating, smoking, using the toilet or leaving at the end of the work shift on or about July 25, 2019.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,000 Reduced

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) Cleveland Brothers Weld Shop - The employer did not establish a regulated area in the welding area when airborne exposures to chromium (VI) was above the Permissible exposure limit, on or about July 25, 2019.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $11,566 · Current $7,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1): A hazard was present or was likely to be present from skin or eye contact with chromium (VI); however, the employer did not provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees, and/or did not ensure that employees used such clothing and equipment:    (a) Cleveland Brothers Chromium Shop - The employer did not provide adequate protective clothing to employees where an overexposure was documented and a hazard was present from skin and eye contact with chromium (VI) on or about July 25, 2019.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that employees removed all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium (VI) exposure, whichever came first:  (a) Cleveland Brothers chromium shop - The employer did not ensure that when employees completed their work shift they remove all contaminated clothing prior to leaving the work area. Overexposures were documented in March 2019 and a hazard is present from skin and eye contact with chromium (VI) on or about July 25, 2019.  (b) Cleveland Brothers Welding shop - The employer did not ensure that when employees completed their work shift they remove all contaminated clothing prior to leaving the work area. Overexposures were documented in May 2017 and March 2019 and a hazard is present from skin and eye contact with chromium (VI) on or about July 25, 2019.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(4)(ii): Employees were allowed to consume food or beverages at a worksite where chromium (VI) was present; however, the employer did not ensure that employees did not enter the eating and drinking areas with chromium (VI)-contaminated protective clothing or equipment:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not ensure that employees removed contaminated clothing prior to going into areas where food or drink was consumed on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $11,566 · Current $11,566

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(iv): The employer did not ensure that bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing or equipment that were removed from change rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal were labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200:  (a) Cleveland Brothers Metal Containers - The employer did not ensure that warning labels were placed on containers of chromium contaminated clothing so that those cleaning the items were informed of the potential hazards. Overexposures were documented and a hazard is present from skin and eye contact with chromium (VI) on or about July 25, 2019.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(3)(iii): The employer did not inform any person who laundered or cleaned protective clothing or equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the permissible exposure limit:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not inform the third (3) party who lauders the clothing of the harmful effects of  exposure to chromium (VI), on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,711 · Current $7,711

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(4)(i): Employees were allowed to consume food or beverages at a worksite where chromium (VI) was present; however, the employer did not ensure that the eating and drinking areas were maintained as free as practicable of chromium (VI):  (a) Cleveland Brothers Plating Area - The employer did not ensure that the surfaces of the plating breakroom table and picnic table outside were kept as free as practical from hexavalent chromium on or about July 25, 2019.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(i): The employer did not provide a medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment:    (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not provide a medical examination to employees within thirty days of initial assignment to the welding department where the company was aware of an overexposure to hexavalent chromium on or about July 25, 2019.    No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $13,494

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(iii): The employer had not included chromium (VI) in the hazard communication program, established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, ensured that each employee had access to labels on containers of chromium (VI) and to safety data sheets, and was trained in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard and 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2), including the contents of the Hexavalent Chromium Standard, the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program, and made copies of this standard available to all affected employees:   (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not include chromium VI in their hazard communications program for employees who work in the chrome plating department and welding department, on our about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

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) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not train employees on the physical and health hazards of hexavalent chromium while working in the chrome plating and welding department, on or about July 25, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $13,494

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(i): Prior to initial job assignment to an area where employees were subject to hexavalent chromium exposure, the employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge in the contents of 29 CFR 1910.1026,and the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (k) of the standard:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of the hexavalent chromium standard prior to their initial assignment of working in the chrome plating department and welding department, on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not make a copy of the Chromium (VI) standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026, readily available to all employees who were exposed to chromium (VI):  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not make available a copy of the hexavalent chromium standard available to employees working in the chrome plating department and welding department, on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

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) Cleveland Brothers - Welding area - Employees working with chemicals such as but not limited to splatter guard, welding gasses, and metals being welded on had not been provided training on the hazards of the chemicals they worked with, on or about July 25, 2019.  (b) Cleveland Brothers Chrome plating area -  Employees working with chemicals such as but not limited to chromic acid, sulfuric acid, chromium trioxide, lacquer thinner were not provided training on the hazards of the chemicals they worked with, on or about July 25, 2019.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $5,783

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:  (a) Cleveland Brothers Welding Area- A container of splatter guard was not labeled as to the contents or the hazard warnings of the product. Employees use the product while welding, on or about July 25, 2019.  (b) Cleveland Brothers Dip tank Area - A container of lacquer thinner was not labeled as to the contents or the hazard warnings of the product. Employees use the product while cleaning rods and cylinders, on or about July 25, 2019.    No abatement certification or documentation required

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7): The employer did not use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other such written materials or affix labels to individual stationary process containers:  (a) Cleveland Brothers dip tank area - The employer did not provide any alternative labeling methods nor label the stationary dip tanks containing acids and other chemicals for chromium plating, on or about July 25, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $5,783

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  (a) Cleveland Brothers welding area - The safety data sheets for employees working with chemicals such as but not limited to splatter guard, sulfuric acids, and welding gasses, were not readily accessible during the work shift, on or about July 25, 2019.  (b) Cleveland Brothers dip area -  The safety data sheets for employees working with chemicals such as but not limited to chromic acid, sulfuric acid, chromium trioxide, lacquer thinner were not readily accessible during the work shift, on or about July 25, 2019.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Mar 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $115,657 · Current $18,364 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average:    (a) Welding Area - An employee welding on sprockets was overexposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 42.5 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), on or about August 28, 2019.  The permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium is 5ug/m3. The employee was exposed approximately 8 times the permissible exposure limit.    (b) Welding Area - An employee welding on sprockets was overexposed to hexavalent chromium at a level of 8.0ug/m3, on or about August 28, 2019. The permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium is 5ug/m3. The employee is exposed approximately 1.6 times the permissible exposure limit.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and state employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit:    (a) Cleveland Brothers Welding Shop - The employer did not institute effective engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee exposures to chromium below the permissible exposure limit, on or about July 25, 2019.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not certify a personal protective equipment assessment had been completed on or about July 25, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jan 24, 2020

Abate by

Feb 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $1,082 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:    (a) Cleveland Brothers Platting Shop - The employer did not provide appendix D information for employees allowed to voluntarily use respirators when exposed to hexavalent chromium on or about July 25, 2019.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Dec 3, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,472 · Current $9,472

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(i): Within 15 working days after making an exposure determination in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2) or 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(3), the employer either did not post the results in an appropriate location that was accessible to all affected employees, or did not notify each affected employee individually in writing of the results:  (a) Cleveland Brothers - The employer did not provide the air sample results to employees within 15 working days after receipt of the results from a third party consultant, on or about June 3, 2019.   No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Dec 3, 2019

Abate by

Dec 20, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(ii): The exposure determination indicated that employee exposure to chromium (VI) was above the permissible exposure limit; however, the employer did not describe in the written notification the corrective action being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit:  (a) Cleveland Brothers Welding Shop - The employer did not provide employees written notification of the corrective action being taken to reduce chromium(VI) exposure below the permissible exposure limit on or about June 3, 2019.  (b) Cleveland Brothers Chromium Shop - The employer did not provide employees written notification of the corrective action being taken to reduce chromium(VI) on or about June 3, 2019.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.