OSHA Inspection: AIRCRAFT READINESS ALLIANCE, LLC

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

Jul 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $9,446 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average:    FRCSW Paint Complex Building 465: Bay 1: Air monitoring conducted on February 5, 2020 found employee(s) performing painting applications to be exposed to hexavalent chromium in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  a) employee 1: at 53 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TWA);  b) employee 2: at 64 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TW).    Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.    Per ISA dtd 4/20/2020:  All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance, to include final industrial hygiene monitoring.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

Apr 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(i): The employer using the scheduled monitoring option did not perform initial monitoring to determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to chromium (VI) for each employee on the basis of a sufficient number of personal breathing zone air samples to accurately characterize full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:  FRCSW Paint Complex: Building 465: Bay 1: Employer had not conducted initial personal breathing zone air sampling (8-hour-time-wieghted average exposure monitoring) to fully characterize chromium (IV) employee exposures per job classification. Air monitoring conducted on February 5, 2020 found employee(s) performing painting applications to be exposed to hexavalent chromium in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  a) employee 1: at 53 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TWA); b) employee 2: at 64 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TW).   Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

Jul 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(ii): Painting of aircraft or large aircraft parts was performed; however, the employer did not use feasible engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) to or below 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air:    FRCSW Paint Complex: Building 465: Bay 1: Air monitoring conducted on February 5, 2020 found on employee(s) performing primer painting applications to be exposed to hexavalent chromium in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  a) employee 1: at 53 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TWA);  b) employee 2: at 64 micrograms per cubic meter of air which was calculated as an eight-hour time weighted average (TW).    Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.    Per ISA dtd 4/20/2020:  All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance, to include final industrial hygiene monitoring.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

May 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(iii): The employer allowed the use of compressed air to remove chromium VI from any surface:    FRCSW Paint Complex: Building 465: Bay 1: An employee performing primer spray-painting applications to large aircraft used compressed air to remove hexavalent chromium from the surface of the Tyvek suit and respirator he used without the employer stopping the work practice. An employee was exposed to irritant hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

May 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that waste, scrap, debris, and any other materials contaminated with chromium (VI) and cosigned for disposal were collected and disposed of in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers:    Paint Complex Bays, including 1 and 7: Production waste contaminated with hexavalent chromium was discarded into an open bin. The contaminated waste was not sealed in impermeable and/or closed containers. Employees were exposed to irritant hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

May 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,784 · Current $5,784

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i): Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were not cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:    Paint Complex: Bay 1: Employee(s) performed painting operations with PPG Aerospace 44GN007 Base Component, which contains chromium ingredients. A wipe sample obtained inside an employee's full-face respirator showed presence of hexavalent chromium. Employee(s) were exposed to irritation hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.

Issued

Apr 2, 2020

Abate by

May 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(3)(iii): The employee's knowledge or use of assigned personal protective equipment indicates that the employee did not retain the requisite understanding or skill.    Paint Complex Bays, including 1 and 7: Employee(s) engaged in aircraft priming operations were observed handling personal protective equipment, which was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, without hand protection. Employees were exposed to irritant hazards associated with hexavalent chromium.