OSHA Inspection: DONALDSON COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Mar 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,814 · Current $7,570 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(1)(i): Each employer who has a workplace covered by this standard shall monitor employees to determine their exposure to formaldehyde:  a) On or about November 14, 2019, the employer had not conducted employee formaldehyde exposure monitoring after the new Spray Laminator was installed in 2018. Safety Data Sheets for Ahlstrom Munksjo Phenolic Saturated Paper 15PS-29 and Ahlstrom Munksjo Phenolic Saturated Paper 15P-81 states: "Contains formaldehyde."

Issued

Mar 12, 2020

Abate by

Apr 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(h)(1)(ii): Contact with irritating or sensitizing materials shall be prevented to the extent necessary to eliminate the hazard:  a) On or above November 14, 2019, Laminator Operators handling phenolic saturated paper media rolls and loose material have skin contact with their hands and arms. Phenolic saturated paper contains formaldehyde. The Safety Data Sheets for Ahlstrom Munksjo Phenolic Saturated Paper 15PS-29 and Ahlstrom Munksjo Phenolic Saturated Paper 15P-81 state: "May cause allergic skin reaction."

Issued

Mar 12, 2020

Abate by

Apr 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(l)(1)(ii): The employer shall make medical surveillance available for employees who develop signs and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde and for all employees exposed to formaldehyde in emergencies. When determining whether an employee may be experiencing signs and symptoms of possible overexposure to formaldehyde, the employer may rely on the evidence that signs and symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure will occur only in exceptional circumstances when airborne exposure is less than 0.1 ppm and when formaldehyde is present in material in concentrations less than 0.1 percent:  a) On or about November 14, 2019, the employer had not developed and implemented a procedure making medical surveillance available to employees experiencing symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure.

Issued

Mar 12, 2020

Abate by

Apr 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(n)(1): Participation. The employer shall assure that all employees who are assigned to workplaces where there is exposure to formaldehyde participate in a training program, except that where the employer can show, using objective data, that employees are not exposed to formaldehyde at or above 0.1 ppm, the employer is not required to provide training:  a) On or about November 14, 2019, the employer had not developed and implemented an initial and annual employee formaldehyde training program.  b) On or about November 14, 2019, the employer had not trained employees on the facility's engineering controls that were designed to control exposure levels to Formaldehyde.  The ventilation fans above the laminator designed for employee exposure to chemicals were turned on and off to control temperature throughout the facility.    An effective formaldehyde training program includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1) The contents of the 29 CFR 1910.1049 Formaldehyde standard  2) The purpose and a description of the employee medical surveillance program  3) A description of the potential health hazards associated with exposure to formaldehyde 4) A description of the signs and symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde 5) The procedure(s) employees shall use to immediately report the development of any adverse signs or symptoms that the employee suspects attributable to formaldehyde exposure to the employer. 6) A description of the operations in the work area where formaldehyde is present 7) A description of the safe work practices appropriate for limiting exposure to formaldehyde in each job 8) The purpose for, proper use of, and limitations of personal protective clothing and equipment. 9) The instructions for the handling of spills, emergencies, and clean-up procedures 10) An explanation of the importance of engineering and work practice controls for employee protection and any necessary instructions in the use of these controls 11) A review of emergency procedures including the specific duties or assignments of each employee in the event of an emergency.