OSHA Inspection: SCIENTIFIC DESIGN CO., INC.

Issued

Mar 2, 2020

Abate by

Apr 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $8,502 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B)(1): The employer did not select a respirator for employee use that maintained the employee's exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the maximum use concentration:    (a) Building 59: Two catalyst production employees working in ICP and packaging were exposed to Time Weighted Averages of 0.43 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver and 0.44 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver over 451 minutes and 480 minutes. The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit for Silver is a Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter of air. The Honeywell half mask respirators' Maximum Use Concentration for use with Silver particulate was 0.10 milligrams per cubic meter of air and was exceeded, on or about February 4, 2020.

Issued

Mar 2, 2020

Abate by

Apr 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $8,502 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i): 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i): The employer permitted respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or interfered with valve function:    (a) Building 59: The employer permitted an employee with facial hair along the face seal to wear a Honeywell half mask respirator while packaging catalyst pellets. The employee was exposed to a Time Weighted Average of 0.44 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver over the 451 minutes sampled. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time. This exposure to Silver is 44 times the Permissible Exposure Limit listed in Table Z-1 of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter of air, on or about February 4, 2020.

Issued

Mar 2, 2020

Abate by

Apr 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $8,502 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of silver listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter of air:    (a) Building 59: Two catalyst production employees working in ICP and packaging were exposed to Time Weighted Averages of 0.43 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver and 0.44 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver over 451 minutes and 480 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for any period of time that was not sampled. These exposures to Silver are 43 times and 44 times, respectively, of the Permissible Exposure Limit listed in Table Z-1 of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter of air, on or about February 4, 2020.    (b) Building 59: AA catalyst production employee working in support wash was exposed to a Time Weighted Average 0.07 milligrams per cubic meter of air of silver, over 476 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the any period of time that was not sampled. This exposure to Silver is 7 times the Permissible Exposure Limit listed in Table Z-1 of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter of air, on or about February 4, 2020.