OSHA Inspection: COLORADO ASPHALT SERVICES, LLC

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $3,000 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) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, machine specific, step-by-step procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy, including but not limited to electrical, thermal, and kinetic energy, when employees serviced and maintained equipment in the asphalt production plant, including but not limited to conveyors, an aggregate drying drum, and an asphalt mixing drum.       Abatement Note:  Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.  The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:      1)      A specific statement of the intended use of the procedures;      2)      Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;      3)      Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; and      4)      Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 31, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Affected employees were not instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure:    (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not train affected employees on the purpose and use of machine specific energy control procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy, including but not limited to electrical, thermal, and kinetic energy, for equipment in the asphalt production plant, including but not limited to conveyors, an aggregate drying drum, and an asphalt mixing drum.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that an education program was provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards, when fire extinguishers were used to put out a flash fire in the asphalt mixing drum, when diesel fuel was inadvertently added to an asphalt production process, where an ignition source was present.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(3): Employees who have been designated to use firefighting equipment as part of the emergency action plan were not provided training in the use of the appropriate equipment:  (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer failed to ensure that employees, who had been designated to use portable fire extinguishers, were provided training in the use of portable fire extinguishers. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards, when fire extinguishers were used to put out a flash fire in the asphalt mixing drum, when diesel fuel was inadvertently added to an asphalt production process, where an ignition source was present.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,796 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that the pulley on an asphalt tack pumping system on the floor was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-between and amputation hazards from incoming nip points between the pulley and belt.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(3)(i): Vertical or inclined belt(s) were not enclosed by guard(s) conforming to the requirements specified at 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that the belt on an asphalt tack pumping system on the floor was guarded. This condition exposed employees to caught-between and amputation hazards from incoming nip points between the pulley and belt.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,347 · Current $3,000 Reduced

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) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that a stationary asphalt mixing drum was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemicals contained within. The employer used two manufacturing processes to make asphalt. One process used Hot Mixed Asphalt which is mixed in the drum in the presence of an ignition source in an attached aggregate drying drum, which contains a natural gas burner. The other process used EZ Street Asphalt with diesel fuel without ignition sources. This condition exposed employees to a flash fire incident, when diesel fuel was inadvertently added to the Hot Mixed Asphalt process in the mixing drum, while the natural gas burner acted as an ignition source in the aggregate drying drum.    (b) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that a stationary asphalt tact container was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemicals contained within. This condition potentially exposed employees a hazardous chemical, Emulsified Asphalt.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 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) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.  Employees did not know the hazards of the chemicals in their work areas, the format of safety data sheets or the globally harmonized labelling system.  This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards, including but not limited to Hot Mix Asphalt, EZ Street Asphalt, natural gas, granite aggregate and diesel fuel.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that employee training included methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.):    (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that employees were trained in methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of flammable diesel fuel vapors and natural gas in an asphalt mixing drum and aggregate drying drum before switching to the Hot Mix Asphalt process, which requires the use of an ignition source from a natural gas burner in the aggregate drying drum, which is attached to the mixing drum. The employer did not provide effective training to the employees regarding the detection of flammable gases.  This condition exposed the employees to a fire hazard.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Abate by

Jan 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was provided with the information contained in Appendix D to this section when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible.  The employer provided filtering face piece respirators for voluntary use.  This condition exposed the employees to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1)(iv): Electric equipment was not free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees such as damaged insulation:  (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that the electrical cord used to power a drum heater was properly repaired or taken out of service in that the outer insulation was damaged exposing the inner insulation of the conductors. The conductors of the live circuit were insulated and not exposed. This condition potentially exposed employees to shock and electrocution hazards.

Issued

Dec 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(x): Flexible cords and cables were not protected from accidental damage:  (a) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that support for cable assemblies and flexible cords and cables were installed so as not to cause damage. A flexible extension power cord used to supply power to a drum heater, was damaged at the base of the to the plug. The conductors of the live circuit were insulated and not exposed.  Effective support had not been provided to the flexible power cord to prevent damage. This condition exposed employees to an electrical hazard.  (b) Colorado Asphalt Services, LLC at 3700 E. 56th Avenue, Commerce City, CO: On and before August 29, 2019, the employer did not ensure that support for cable assemblies and flexible cords and cables were installed so as not to cause damage. Twp flexible electrical cords on drum heaters had damaged outer insulation at the connection point between the heater and the cord, exposing inner insulators.  The conductors of the live circuit were insulated and not exposed.  Effective support had not been provided to the flexible power cord to prevent damage. This condition exposed employees to an electrical hazard.