OSHA Inspection: METALTECH, INC.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,642 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a.)	Metaltech, Inc., Grinding department area, on or about January 29th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  The employer did not institute a continuing and effective hearing conservation program when employees' noise exposure exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 85 dbA.  An employee performing metal grinding operations of various metal parts in and around the grinding department area of the facility was exposed to noise levels of 72.4% of the allowable limit during a 372 minute sampling period on January 29th, 2021.  Exposure calculation included a zero exposure increment for the 108 minutes not sampled.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.7 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure.           ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    a.) Metaltech, Inc., Grinding department area, on or about January 29th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  An employee performing metal grinding operations of various metal parts in and around the grinding department area of the facility was exposed to noise levels of 72.4% of the allowable limit during a 372 minute sampling period on January 29th, 2021.  Exposure calculation included a zero exposure increment for the 108 minutes not sampled.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.7 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure. The employer had not established valid baseline audiograms within 6 months of employees first exposure for those employees overexposed to noise.   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Abate by

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  a.) Metaltech, Inc., Grinding department area, on or about January 29th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  An employee performing metal grinding operations of various metal parts in and around the grinding department area of the facility was exposed to noise levels of 72.4% of the allowable limit during a 372 minute sampling period on January 29th, 2021.  Exposure calculation included a zero exposure increment for the 108 minutes not sampled.  This exposure is equivalent to a sound level of 87.7 dBA for the dose and time of employee exposure. The employer did not institute, and ensure employee participation in a hearing conservation training program for all employees who were exposed to noise that exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average sound level of 85 dBA.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,481 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

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)	Metaltech, Inc., Production areas, on or about January 8th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  Employees were exposed to carbon monoxide during work operations associated with an endothermic generator.  The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine employees exposure levels to carbon monoxide during work operations associated with the endothermic generator.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Abate by

Apr 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $3,481 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a.)	Metaltech, Inc., Production areas, on or about January 8th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  Employees worked with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, grinding fluid and various powdered metals during powdered metal work operations.  A written hazard communication program had not been developed and implemented.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Abate by

Apr 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.)	Metaltech, Inc., Production areas, on or about January 8th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  Employees worked with and around hazardous substances including, but not limited to, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, grinding fluid and various powdered metals during powdered metal work operations.  The employer did not provide hazard communication training for all employees who worked with and around hazardous substances.     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Feb 25, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  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 product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical  a.) Metaltech, Inc., sintering oven area, on or about January 8th, 2021, and times prior thereto:  Secondary containers of products including, but not limited to, Kensol 30 (mineral spirits) were not labeled with a product identifier and the hazards of the hazardous chemical(s) container therein.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: Abatement certification is required within 10 days after the abatement date noted on the citation (see below).  This certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date abatement was completed, method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.