OSHA Inspection: IONEX RESEARCH CORPORATION

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.30(a)(1): The employer did not provide training for each employee who used personal fall protection systems or who was required to be trained as specified elsewhere in this subpart before any employee is exposed to a fall hazard:  (a) IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On or before 3/29/2021, the employer did ensure that each employee exposed to a fall hazard was trained in the nature of the fall hazards in the work area and how to recognize them, the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards, and correct use of fall protection equipment. Employees worked on top of filter housing units.  Work was performed seven to ten feet above the lower level. This condition exposed employees to an approximate seven to ten foot fall hazard.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(12)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a scaffold was protected from falling in accordance with 29 CFR part 1926, subpart L:  (a) IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On or before 3/29/2021, the employer did not ensure employees on a scaffold were protected from falling.  Employees performed elevated maintenance and shipping activities in a Titan man basket supported by Hyster model H60XM or Yale model GLP050 forklifts.  The man basked was equipped with a metal top rail and mid rail on three sides and removable metal chains on the entry side.  The metal top rail and top chain were less than 39 inches in height above the platform an employee stood upon. This condition exposed employees to a fall hazard.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(3)(i)(G): Powered industrial truck operators did not receive training on attachment adaptation, weight of the attachment, and use limitations:   (a) IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On or before 3/29/2021, the employer did not ensure forklift operators were trained in fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations. Employees performed elevated maintenance and shipping activities in a Titan man basket supported by Hyster model H60XM or Yale model GLP050 forklifts.  Operators of the forklifts did not receive training on operation of the forklifts when elevating personnel using the man basket.  This condition exposed employees to tip-over and fall hazards.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:   (a)  IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/30/2021, the employer did not ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134.  Employees welded stainless steel parts.  The employer allowed employees to voluntarily wear tight fitting air purifying respirators while welding.  The employer did not ensure that all employees voluntarily using a respirator were provided the information in Appendix D.   This condition exposed an employee to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  (a)  IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/30/2021, the employer did not ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator.  Employees welded stainless steel parts.  The employer allowed employees to voluntarily wear tight fitting air purifying respirators while welding.  The employees did not receive a medical evaluation to determine if they were medically able to use a respirator.  This condition exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.  (b)  IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/30/2021, the employer did not ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily stored the respirator so that its use did not present a health hazard to the user.  Employees welded stainless steel parts.  The employer allowed employees to voluntarily wear tight fitting air purifying respirators while welding.  A 3M half mask air purifying respirator with P100 filters was stored in the work area hanging from a gas cylinder.  This condition exposed the employee to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(i)(5): The employer did not ensure that employees did not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas, or in areas where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurred:   (a) IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/29/2021, the employer did not ensure that employees did not consume food or beverages in an area where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurred.  Employees were permitted to eat food in the stainless steel welding area, where chemicals including but not limited to hexavalent chromium were present. This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)  IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/30/2021, 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.  The employer's written hazard communication program did not describe the labeling system utilized for containers.  Employees were exposed to chemicals, such as but not limited to the following, during work activities.  1.  Hexavalent chromium; 2.  Methyl ethyl ketone; 3.  Nitric acid;  4.  Hydrochloric acid; 5.  Chemsorb; 6.  BAT-31; 7.  Activated charcoal; 8.  Sodium hydroxide; 9.  Isopropyl alcohol;  10.  Xylene; and 11.  Liquified petroleum gas.

Issued

Sep 9, 2021

Abate by

Oct 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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)  IONEX Research Corporation, at 1301 Eastwind Drive, Lafayette, CO: On and preceding 3/30/2021, the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier, signal word, hazard statement, pictogram, and precautionary statement.  Unlabeled secondary containers of Chemsorb, BAT-31, and activated charcoal were located in the QC department.  This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.