OSHA Inspection: METRIX, LLC

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Jan 11, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,433 · Current $1,717 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(c)(5): Electrical equipment was not approved for locations containing both deposits of readily ignitable residues and explosive vapors were present in spraying area(s):  (a)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from fire and explosion hazards. A relocatable power tap was used and located adjacent to the powder coat hopper. The power tap was not rated as intrinsically safe for Class 1, Division 2, flammable environments.  Powder coat residue was generated from the hopper and visible in the area of the relocatable power tap.  This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,433 · Current $1,717 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1)(i): When the employer had assessed the workplace hazard(s) and determined that hazard(s) were present, the employer did not select and/or use the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee from the identified hazards:  (a)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from chemical hazards in that, the employer did not assess the workplace hazards to determine what hazards were present and select and require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.  The employer did not assess hazards in the workplace to include employees working with hazardous chemicals in the facility to include but not limited to; the powder coat booth, the wash bay, the Line-X paint booth and the wet paint booth. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.  Abatement Note:  When then employer has determined that hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:  (1)	Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;  (2)	Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and,  (3)	Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.  (4)	The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  (5)	Defective and damaged equipment. Defective or damaged personal protective equipment shall not be used.  (6)	The employer shall provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use PPE. Each such employee shall be trained to know at least the following:  (a)	When PPE is necessary;  (b)	How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear PPE;  (c)	The limitations of the PPE; and,  (7)	Each affected employee shall demonstrate an understanding of the training specified in paragraph (1) of this section, and the ability to use PPE properly, before being allowed to perform work requiring the use of PPE.  (8)	When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (2) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:  (a)	Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or  (b)	Changes in the types of PPE to be used render previous training obsolete; or  (c)	Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of assigned PPE indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.  (9)	The employer shall verify that each affected employee has received and understood the required training through a written certification that contains the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of training, and that identifies the subject of the certification.  (10)	Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section apply only to 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, and 1910.138. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of this section do not apply to 1910.134 and 1910.137.  Note: Non-mandatory Appendix B contains an example of procedures that would comply with the requirement for a hazard assessment.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  (a)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not have a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section.  The program was not established and implemented whenever respirators were required by the employer in that, the employer required the use of a half-face, negative pressure, air-purifying respirator during spray operations of Line-X coating and use of supplied air respirators for use in the wash bay and powder coating booth.  This hazard exposed the employee to the lack of knowledge of proper respirator use.  Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  (1)          Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  (2)          Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;  (3)          Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;  (4)          Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;  (5)          Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;  (6)          Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;  (7)          Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;  (8)          Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and  (9)          Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(6)(i):The employer did not obtain from the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)  a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator:  (a)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from hazards related use of respiratory protection in that employees were not provided a medical evaluation prior to being required to use respiratory protection. This condition exposed employees to hazards related to use of respiratory protection.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1):The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  (a) Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from chemical hazards in that employees had not completed fit testing prior to being required to use respiratory protection when performing work.  Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  (1)          Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  (2)          Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;  (3)          Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;  (4)          Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;  (5)          Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;  (6)          Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;  (7)          Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;  (8)          Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and  (9)          Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from chemical hazards in that respirators were not ensured to stored appropriately, protected from dust and damaging chemicals. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.  Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  (1)          Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  (2)          Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;  (3)          Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;  (4)          Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;  (5)          Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;  (6)          Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;  (7)          Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;  (8)          Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and  (9)          Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,433 · Current $1,717 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)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from chemical hazards in that the company had not developed, implemented and maintained a comprehensive written hazard communication program, covering employees that performed work with or in the vicinity of hazardous chemicals onsite. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.  Abatement Note:  The written hazard communication program will also include:   (1) A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using an identity that is referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet (the list may be compiled for the workplace as a whole or for individual work areas); and,  (2) The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks.  (3) The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and safety data sheets required by this section.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Mar 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6):The employer used written materials, such as signs, placards, process sheets, or batch tickets in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers that failed to identify the container(s) to which they were applicable and did not convey the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5):  (a)Metrix, LLC at 501 Oakwood Road in Watertown, SD 57201: On or about and at times prior to July 8, 2021, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from chemical hazards in that, a spray container of Deox 121 located near the wash bay, was not appropriately labeled. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.