OSHA Inspection: TELEX METALS LLC

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-10-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3277.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative and/or engineering controls were not utilized:     a) Telex Metals - On or about February 20, 2020, an employee operating tantalum powder processing machines, was exposed to a continuous noise at 459.1% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 100.9 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 435 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 45 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not implement feasible administrative and/or engineering controls.     b) Telex Metals - On or about February 20, 2020, an employee operating tantalum powder processing machines, was exposed to a continuous noise at 350% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 99.0 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 424 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 56 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not implement feasible administrative and/or engineering controls.       Step 1:  Submit to the area director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous noise levels as referenced in this citation.  this plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:      (1)   Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;      (2)   Election of optimum control methods and completion of design;      (3)   Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; and       (4)   Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.      Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  (The 45 day requirement can be shortened or lengthened by the area director depending on the specific circumstances.)      Step 2:  abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon the verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    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, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1966.00 · Current $1350.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:     a) Telex Metals - On or about January 23, 2020, employees were required to wear half face elastomeric respirators while working with tantalum carbide powder, and the employer did not provide a medical evaluation as required in this section.     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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-06-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 2325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:    a) Telex Metals - On or about January 23, 2020, employees were required to wear half face elastomeric respirators while working with tantalum carbide powder and the employer did not provide an annual fit test.     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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 2325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide effective respirator training to employees that was comprehensive, understandable and recur annually to employees required to use respiratory protection:  a) Telex Metals - On or about January 23, 2020, employees were required to wear half face elastomeric respirators while working with tantalum carbide powder and the employer did not provide training as required.   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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2622.00 · Current $1700.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.    a) Telex Metals - On or about January 23, 2020, employees working with tantalum powder, a combustible dust, were provided fire extinguishers to use during incipient stage fire fighting.  The employer did not provide an educational program as required.    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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: By this date the employer must either correct the alleged violation or implement a Fire Safety Policy, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and (b) which included the evacuation requirement of 29 CFR 1910.157(b).

Issued

2020-04-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2020-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1966.00 · Current $1650.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2325

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    a) Telex Metals - On or about January 23, 2020, employees working with hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to tantalum carbide powder, were not provided effective information and training on the chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment.     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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.