OSHA Inspection: SONOMA TILEMAKERS INC.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3481.00 · Current $2425.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.25(b)(3):  The employer did not ensure that stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings.  The egress stairs from the kiln area to the gravel driveway did not have uniform riser heights.  The bottom tread had an uneven surface.  This condition exposed employees to a tripping hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3481.00 · Current $2425.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  Machine guarding was not provided to protect operator(s) and other employees from hazard(s) created by an ingoing nip point:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that machine guarding was provided to protect the operator from an ingoing nip point.  One employee operated a tile foot cleaner, which utilized a motorized horizontal abrasive belt, to remove excess glaze from tiles.  The ingoing nip point of the belt was not guarded.  This condition exposed the employee to an amputation hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3481.00 · Current $2425.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(a)(2)(x): Flexible cords and cables were not protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch points:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that a flexible cord was protected from accidental damage.  A kiln was provided electrical power via a flexible cord that passed through a large overhead door.  The door had been closed upon the cord.  The cord was not protected from damage.  This condition exposed an employee to an electrical hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):  Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, flexible cords were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.  Two permanently sited kilns and their blower motors were provided electrical power via flexible cords.  This condition exposed an employee to an electrical hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3481.00 · Current $2425.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet:   (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present.   Chemicals found in the workplace included, but were not limited, to the following:  1.  Liquid Wrench; 2.  Windex; 3.  Bleach (containing sodium hypochlorite); 4.  Paint thinner; 5.  Ferro Corporation Ferro Frit 3110; 6.  Ferro Corporation Ferro Frit 5301;  7.  Fusion Ceramics F493;  8.  "Odoban";  9.  "Hand sanitizer";  10.  WD-40 Corporation WD-40 (containing petroleum distillates); and 11.  Clay.   This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(i): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v):  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the correct name of the chemical and appropriate hazard information.  A container previously containing isopropyl alcohol had handwritten on its side "odoban".  The alcohol container was re-used to store "odoban".  The original isopropyl alcohol label remained on the container.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.  (b)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the correct name of the chemical and appropriate hazard information.  A secondary container had solely handwritten on its side "hand sanitizer".  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical.   Chemicals found in the workplace included, but were not limited, to the following:  1.  Liquid Wrench; 2.  Windex; 3.  Bleach (containing sodium hypochlorite); 4.  Paint thinner; 5.  Ferro Corporation Ferro Frit 3110; 6.  Ferro Corporation Ferro Frit 5301;  7.  Fusion Ceramics F493;  8.  "Odoban";  9.  "Hand sanitizer";  10.  WD-40 Corporation WD-40 (containing petroleum distillates); and 11.  Clay.   This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   Employee training did not include the details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that employee training included an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer and the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.  Chemicals, including but not limited to bleach, paint thinner, Windex, frits, and clay were used by employees and stored within the workplace.  Employees were not provided training on GHS labels or SDSs.  This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazards in the workplace.  Employees mixed glazes and sprayed glazes.  The glazes contained kaolin, zinc oxide, and other air contaminants.   The processes generated airborne aerosols.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to these air contaminants.  This condition potentially exposed the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. 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.  The employer required that two employees wear North model 7700 tight fitting air purifying respirators with P100 filters when mixing glaze, spraying glaze, or cutting tile.  The employees did not receive medical evaluations.  This condition potentially exposed the employees to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-02-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not ensure that respirators were stored to protect them from damage, contamination, or dust.  Employees stored unprotected North model 7700 tight fitting air purifying respirators with P100 filters on shelving or tables within the glaze room.  The areas were contaminated with dust from work processes.  This condition potentially exposed the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective, comprehensive, understandable, annual respirator training to employees who are required to use respirators:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not provide effective, comprehensive, understandable, annual respirator training to employees who were required to use respirators.  Two employees were required to wear North model 7700 tight fitting air purifying respirators with P100 filters when mixing glaze, spraying glaze, or cutting tile.  The employees did not receive respiratory protection training.  This condition potentially exposed the employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

2021-01-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1): The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:  (a)  Sonoma Tilemakers Inc., at 5853 Rawhide Court, Unit A, Boulder, CO:  On and preceding 8/26/2020, Sonoma Tilemakers Inc. did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.  One employee used a tile saw to cut clay tile.  The clay tile contained respirable crystalline silica.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  This condition potentially exposed the employee to a respirable crystalline silica hazard.