OSHA Inspection: HELLAS CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $8,856 · Current $7,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a) Twister area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 110.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 90.7 dBA) which is approximately 3.30 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on a 478 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.   b) Extrusion area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 216.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.7 dBA) which is approximately 2.16 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 495 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.  c) Twister area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 119.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 91.2 dBA) which is approximately 3.56 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 552 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.  d) Extrusion area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, them employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 205.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.6 dBA) which is approximately 2.05 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA or 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 514 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    a) Twister area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 110.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 90.7 dBA) which is approximately 3.30 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on a 478 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not develop a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise.     b) Extrusion area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 216.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.7 dBA) which is approximately 2.16 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 495 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not develop a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise.    c) Twister area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 119.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 91.2 dBA) which is approximately 3.56 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 552 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not develop a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise.    d) Extrusion area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, them employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 205.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.6 dBA) which is approximately 2.05 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA or 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 514 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not develop a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise.

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a) Twister area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 110.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 90.7 dBA) which is approximately 3.30 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on a 478 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not provide baseline audiometric testing nor annual audiometric testing to determine if hearing protection was effective to employees exposed to high levels of noise for extended periods of time.    b) Extrusion area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 216.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.7 dBA) which is approximately 2.16 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 495 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not provide baseline audiometric testing nor annual audiometric testing to determine if hearing protection was effective to employees exposed to high levels of noise for extended periods of time.    c) Twister area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 119.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 91.2 dBA) which is approximately 3.56 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 552 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not provide baseline audiometric testing nor annual audiometric testing to determine if hearing protection was effective to employees exposed to high levels of noise for extended periods of time.    d) Extrusion area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, them employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 205.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.6 dBA) which is approximately 2.05 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA or 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 514 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not provide baseline audiometric testing nor annual audiometric testing to determine if hearing protection was effective to employees exposed to high levels of noise for extended periods of time.

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:    a) Twister area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 110.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 90.7 dBA) which is approximately 3.30 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on a 478 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).    b) Extrusion area line #4; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 216.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.7 dBA) which is approximately 2.16 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 495 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).    c) Twister area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 119.2% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 91.2 dBA) which is approximately 3.56 times the action level of 33.4% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA of 82.1 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 552 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).    d) Extrusion area line #2; On or about November 11, 2019 and at times prior to, them employer exposed employees to noise at levels of 205.3% dose (equivalent to a 8 hour TWA of 95.6 dBA) which is approximately 2.05 times the permissible exposure level of 100% dose (equivalent to a 12 hour TWA or 90 dBA).  Results are based on 480 minutes of a 514 minute sampling period conducted.  The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k).

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $8,856 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not 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, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):    a) Extrusion lines #1-4; On or about November 29, 2019 and at times prior to the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energy sources in that the written procedure for the service and maintenance of extrusion lines #1-4 did not clearly identify the magnitude of the energy sources to lines #1-4.    b) Extrusion lines #1-4; On or about November 29, 2019 and at times prior to the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energy sources in that the written procedure for the service and maintenance of extrusion lines #1-4 did not clearly identify the location and methods to lock out the energy isolations points for lines #1-4.

Issued

Nov 26, 2019

Abate by

Dec 9, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D): Each authorized employee did not affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device before working on the machine or equipment.    a) Waste Grinder; On or about August 27, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that the employees were allowed to work on the Waste Grinder together without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point(s).    b) Line #2, cooling unit; On or about October 29, 2019 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to potential hazardous energies in that employees were allowed to work on the cooling unit of line #2 without all employees applying a personal lockout device on the energy control lockout point(s).