OSHA Inspection: R BRAUN INC.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,978 · Current $1,989 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:    At the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect Plasma Table Operators from struck-by and caught-between hazards from the moving bridge of the plasma cutting table.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,381 · Current $1,691 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(ii):  If there is a defect or evidence of damage that might expose an employee to injury, the defective or damaged item shall be removed from service, and no employee may use it until repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe have been made:    At the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; a extension cord was not removed from services when it was damaged. The extension cord was used to power a handheld grinder and could have exposed a Setup Welder to injuries from electrical shock.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $4,641 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator:    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not provide a Welder employee with a medical evaluation to determine their ability to wear a tight-fitting half-face respirator before being required to use the respirator while plasma cutting and MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1):  The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph:  On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not ensure that a Welder employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed an appropriate QLFT or QNFT when the employee was required to use the respirator while plasma cutting and MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):  The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function:  On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer permitted a Welder employee to have facial hair, which came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the employee's face when the employee was required to use a tight-fitting half-face respirator while plasma cutting and MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k):  This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This paragraph also requires the employer to provide the basic information on respirators in Appendix D of this section to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.  On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not provide effective training to a Welder employee when the employee was required to use a tight-fitting half-face respirator while plasma cutting and MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(2):  Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134, which covers each employee required to use a respirator:  On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not establish or implement a written respirator protection program when a Welder employee was required to use a tight-fitting half-face respirator while plasma cutting and MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.  All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134(c) through (m) must be covered in a written respiratory protection program. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:  1)  Medical evaluations 2)  Fit testing 3)  Filter changeout schedule 4)  Training on use, maintenance, care and limitations 5)  Program evaluation 6)  Recordkeeping

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Apr 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $4,641 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c):  Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 µg/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA):    On October 11, 2019, an employee welding on stainless steel in and around the milk/manure tank was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average level of 11.8 ug/m3 for chromium (VI), approximately 2.4 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 5.0 ug/m3.  The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 464 minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 16 minutes.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Apr 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i):  Except as permitted in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) and paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, the employer shall use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) to or below the PEL unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable, and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section:  On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232;  the employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain a Welder employee's exposure to chromium (VI) to or below the PEL while the employee was MIG welding on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Apr 27, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1):  Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this section shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or paragraph (d)(3) of this section.    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for a Welder employee exposed to chromium (VI) while the employee plasma cut and MIG welded on a stainless steel tank.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(ii):  In classifying the hazards of chromium (VI) at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer, eye irritation, and skin sensitization:    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not inform a Welder of the hazards of chromium (VI), including but not limited to the hazards of cancer, eye irritation and skin sensitization when the employee was plasma torch cutting and MIG welding on stainless steel tanks.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2):  The employer shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of; the contents of this section and the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (k) of this section. The employer shall make a copy of this section readily available without cost to all affected employees.    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not ensure that a Welder employee could demonstrate the knowledge of the contents of the chromium (VI) standard nor the purpose of the medical surveillance program. The employee was plasma torch cutting and MIG welding on stainless steel tanks.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program when a Welder employee was exposed to chromium (VI) while plasma torch cutting and MIG welding on stainless steel tanks.    All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1200(e) through (h) must be covered in a written hazard communication program. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:    1)  Container labeling  2)  SDS collection and access  3)  Information and training on chemicals  4)  Procedures for non-routine tasks

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(2)(ii):  Employees shall be informed of any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present:    On October 11, 2019 at the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not inform a Welder employee that chromium (VI) was present in his work area while the employee plasma torch cut and MIG welded on stainless steel tanks.

Issued

Jan 15, 2020

Abate by

Feb 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):  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:  At the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; the employer did not verify through written certification that a hazard assessment for personal protective equipment (PPE) had been performed when employees were grinding, welding, saw cutting, plasma cutting and material handling steel and stainless steel materials.

Issued

Oct 15, 2019

Abate by

Nov 13, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $4,641 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(4)(iv):  Where a welder must enter a confined space through a manhole or other small opening, means shall be provided for quickly removing him in case of emergency. When safety belts and lifelines are used for this purpose they shall be so attached to the welder's body that his body cannot be jammed in a small exit opening. An attendant with a preplanned rescue procedure shall be stationed outside to observe the welder at all times and be capable of putting rescue operations into effect:    At the fabrication building associated with a business at 209 N. 4th Avenue, Saint Nazianz, WI 54232; an employee was MIG welding inside the confined space of a truck tanker which required the employee to enter/exit through a small opening. The employer did not provide the employee, working in the confined space, with means for quick removal in case of an emergency. The employer did not provide an attendant outside the confined space to observe the welding and did not have a preplanned rescue procedure.