OSHA Inspection: VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces were not kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  (a)  BUILDING 33, CARPENTER SHOP  - The employer did not ensure that the accumulation of wood saw dust was removed from horizontal surfaces, including but not limited to the floor, machine surfaces and structure ledges, on or about January 22, 2020.  In the Alternative  29 CFR 1910.141(a)(3)(i): Places of employment were not kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:  (a)  BUILDING 33, CARPENTER SHOP  - The employer did not ensure that the accumulation of wood saw dust was removed from horizontal surfaces, including but not limited to the floor, machine surfaces and structure ledges, on or about January 22, 2020.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by one or more of the following; Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:  (a)  BUILDING 8, GROUNDS BAY, MEZZANINE STORAGE AREA - Employees accessed the mezzanine storage area to store and retrieve parts, and the Southwest side of the mezzanine was only equipped with a steel crossmember installed at a height of 30 inches, which exposed employees to a fall hazard of approximately 87 inches, on or about January 21, 2020.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(b)(2): Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels or equivalent intermediate members were not installed between the walking/working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system:  (a)  BOILER PLANT, BOILER AREA - Employees servicing the boiler units in the plant were exposed to an approximate 13 foot fall hazard when working from the catwalk area above the boilers as the access area were not equipped with a mid-chain, on or about January 29, 2020.  (b)  BOILER PLANT, MEZZANINE AREA - Employees working on the mezzanine area above the locker room and office area were exposed to an approximate 10 foot fall hazard as the two access areas at the ladders were not equipped with a mid-chain, on or about January 29, 2020.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:  (a)  BUILDING 9, MECHANICAL SHOP - A rack of five Acetylene cylinders were stored approximately sixteen feet from four full Oxygen cylinders, and there was no kind of non-combustible barrier installed between them, on or about January 29, 2020.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A): For electric equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, the depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts (as measured from the live parts where they were exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where they were enclosed) was less than indicated in Table S-1 of Subpart S of Part 1910:  (a)  BUILDING 104, ELECTRICAL CLOSET, ROOM 171 - Electrical Closet Room 171 was used to store two rolling containment cubes (ICRA - Infection Control Risk Assessment), two rolling electrical parts bins, and two garbage cans.  These items restricted access to a total of nine (9) 208 volt electrical breaker panels which supplied electrical power to the ground floor area of building 104, on or about January 21, 2020.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):  (a)  BUILDING 1, ROOM 541, MECHANICAL SPACE, AC 6-1 AHU VFD CABINET - Employees set parameters for the variable frequency drives (VFD) for the AC 6-1 AHU air handler unit, and the employees were exposed to the unguarded 110 volt electrical conductors that had been run alongside the VFD's, on or about January 15, 2020.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4): Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:  (a)  BUILDING 18, BASEMENT CARPENTER SHOP - Employees used the Skill six inch grinder (model 30) for various tasks including cleaning putty knives, and the work rest was adjusted to approximately 1/4 inch, on or about December 18, 2019.  (b)  BUILDING 10, BOILER PLANT, WORK ROOM - Employees used the Jet ten inch bench grinder (model JBG-10A SN:13070414) for various tasks including the fitting of parts, and the work rest was adjusted to approximately 1/4 inch, on or about January 29, 2020.  (c)  BUILDING 143, FINISH SHOP - Employees used the Rockwell seven inch bench grinder (model 438-02-314-0187 SN:48C34T3J) for various tasks including the sharpening tools, and the work rest was adjusted to approximately 1/4 inch, on or about January 29, 2020.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.  The Veterans Health Administration was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1110483, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA, 23667.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:  (a)  BUILDING 8, GROUNDS BAY - Employees used a Dayton 4Z911D 10 inch bench grinder to grind parts and tools, and the tongue guard was adjusted to approximately one half inch, on or about January 21, 2020.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.  The Veterans Health Administration was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1110483, citation number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA, 23667.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Abate by

May 12, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  (a)  BUILDING 23, WHEELCHAIR SHOP - Employees used the wheelchair lift while repairing wheelchairs, and the strain relief for the control pendant for the lift had been completely compromised where the cord entered the pendant which exposed approximately 3/4 inch of live electrical conductors, on or about January 21, 2020.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.  The Veterans Health Administration was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1110483, citation number 1, item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA, 23667.

Issued

Apr 16, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  (a)  BUILDING 17, 4TH FLOOR BREAK ROOM, ROOM 422 - Employees used an APC six receptacle surge protector to power a Black and Decker toaster oven and a Mr. Coffee brand coffee pot, on or about January 8, 2020.  (b)  BUILDING 17, 2ND FLOOR BREAK ROOM, ROOM 250 - Employees used an APC Surge Arrest seven receptacle surge protector to power a Hamilton Beach Microwave, on or about January 8, 2020.  (c)  BUILDING 1, 1ST FLOOR STAFF LOUNGE, ROOM 103 - Employees used a generic six receptacle surge protector to power a Black and Decker Eventoast toaster oven, on or about January 15, 2020.  (d)  BUILDING 23, ROOM 105 - Employees used a Belkin Surge Master seven receptacle surge protector to power a Sunbeam microwave and a Walmart brand single cup coffee maker, on or about January 15, 2020.  (e)  BUILDING 8, GROUNDS BAY - Employees used a Tripp Lite Isobar Ultra eight receptacle surge protector to power a Stihl Hidria 0707-3-8582 chain sharpener, on or about January 21, 2020.  (f)  BUILDING 37, ROOM 1A02a - Employees used a Tripp Lite Surge 7 seven receptacle surge protector to power a Samsung Microwave, on or about January 22, 2020.  No abatement certification or documentation required.  The Veterans Health Administration was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1110483, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA, 23667.