OSHA Inspection: SS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS INC.

Issued

Jun 4, 2021

Abate by

Oct 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $19,311 · Current $14,311 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (total dust) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) concentration of 15 mg per cubic meter for that contaminant:  a) SS Industries - Powder Coat New Booth -On or about March 10, 2021, a Powder Coater, while powder coating metal in the conveyor line booth was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR-total dust) at an eight hour time weighted average of 360 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  This exposure is 24.19 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter of air.  This exposure occurred over a 430 minute sampling period. A zero exposure was assumed for the 50 minutes not sampled.  b) SS Industries - Powder Coat Older Booth -On or about March 10, 2021, a Powder Coater, while powder coating metal in the powder coat manual load booth was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR-total dust) at an eight hour time weighted average of 19 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  This exposure is 1.24 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter of air.  This exposure occurred over a 400 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 80 minutes not sampled.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1000(a)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1, item number 16a and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.

Issued

Jun 4, 2021

Abate by

Oct 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a) SS Industries - Powder Coat New Booth -On or about March 10, 2021, a Powder Coater, while powder coating metal in the conveyor line booth was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR-total dust) at an eight hour time weighted average of 360 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  This exposure is 24.19 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter of air.  This exposure occurred over a 430 minute sampling period. A zero exposure was assumed for the 50 minutes not sampled.  b) SS Industries - Powder Coat Older Booth -On or about March 10, 2021, a Powder Coater, while powder coating metal in the powder coat manual load booth was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR-total dust) at an eight hour time weighted average of 19 milligrams per cubic meter of air.  This exposure is 1.24 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg per cubic meter of air.  This exposure occurred over a 400 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 80 minutes not sampled.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1000(e), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1, item number 16b, and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.  Feasible controls were not implemented.   Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to:  1) Improve or redesign the physical structure and/or ventilation draw of the booth to increase CFM and capture velocity.  Enclosing sides of booth where product enters on conveyor and closing off other gaps or openings in booth walls/ceiling should increase capture velocity. 2) Enable the product to be turned on a swivel so the Powder Coater does not have to place themself between the product and ventilation flow.  This will prevent the powder coat dust from traveling back into the employee's breathing zone, essentially keeping the employee "upwind".  3) Administratively reduce time employees work at task with high exposure.

Issued

Jun 4, 2021

Abate by

Jun 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

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) SS Industries - Powder Coat - On or about March 2, 2021, an employee was required to wear a powered air purifying respirator to protect them from the inhalation hazards of powder coat dust while powder coating in the manual feed powder coat booth.  The employer did not provide medical evaluations as required.  b) SS Industries - Powder Coat - On or about March 2, 2021, an employee was required to wear a full-face elastomeric respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards of powder coat dust while powder coating in the automated feed powder coat booth.  The employer did not provide medical evaluations as required.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(e)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1, item number 16d and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.

Issued

Jun 4, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.   a) SS Industries - Powder Coat - On or about March 2, 2021, an employee was required to wear a full-face elastomeric respirator to protect them from inhalation hazards of powder coat dust while powder coating in the automated feed powder coat booth.  The employer did not ensure employees were fit tested annually.  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(f)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1 item number 16e and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.

Issued

Jun 4, 2021

Abate by

Jun 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135T405

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:   a) SS Industries - Powder Coat - On or about March 2, 2021, employees were required to wear full face elastomeric respirators, as well as powered air purifying respirators during powder coat operation.  The employer did not provide employees with training on respirators in accordance with this section  SS Industries was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(k), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1185446, citation number 1, item number 16 f and was affirmed as a final order on March 12, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 105 GP Clement Dr., Collegeville, PA.