OSHA Inspection: COLORWERKS, LLC

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,681 · Current $2,341 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure employees, who were required to remove heated racks containing powder coated products from the oven after the curing process, were protected from severe burns due to physical contact from these racks.  Measured temperature of heated racks after removal from oven was approximately 334 degrees Fahrenheit.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Mar 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,121 · Current $1,561 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):  Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure employees, who were required to use corrosive chemicals including, but not limited to, Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover and Zep Industrial Degreaser on a daily basis, were provided with facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body for emergency use.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $2,731 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(1)(i): Where methylene chloride was present in the workplace, the employer did not determine each employee's exposure:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not determine employee airborne exposure levles to methylene chloride during a paint removing process that included the use of Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover, which contains methylene chloride.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(1): The employer did not provide information and training for each affected employee prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to methylene chloride:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure employees required to engage in processes involving exposure to a methylene chloride-containing paint remover were provided effective information and training in regard to methylene chloride exposure.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $2,731 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(c)(2): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of methylene chloride in excess of 125 parts per million as determined over a sampling period of 15 minutes:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not protect employees who were exposed to an airborne concentration of methylene chloride measuring approximately 196 parts per million (ppm) as determined by short term exposure limit (STEL) personal air sampling when using Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover, which contains methylene chloride, during the paint stripping process.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride exceeded or could reasonably be expected to exceed either the 8-hour Time Weighted Average Permissible Exposure Limit or the Short Term Exposure Limit:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure a regulated area was established so as to address employee exposure to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride, which exceeded the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) for methylene chloride during the paint stripping process using Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(f)(1): The employer did not institute and maintain the effectiveness of engineering controls and work practices to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits and wherever the feasible engineering controls and work practices which can be instituted were not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit or short term exposure limit, the employer did not use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable and did not supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that compiled with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1052(g):  a) On or about July 26, 2021 and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure effective engineering controls were implemented and maintained so as to reduce or eliminate employee exposure to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride, which exceeded the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) during the paint stripping process using Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover, which contains methylene chloride.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(j)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for employees who were or potentially were  exposed to methylene chloride at or above the action level on 30 or more days per year, or above the 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit or the short term exposure limit on 10 or more days per year:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not  ensure medical surveillance was provided to employees, who were exposed to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride which exceeded the short term exposure limit (STEL), while engaged in the paint stripping operations using Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Jan 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(3)(ii): Where an employee(s) exposed to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride exceeded or can reasonably be expected to exceed the action level the employer did not inform each affected employee of the quantity, location, manner of use, release, storage, and/or specific operations that could result in exposure to methylene chloride particularly noting where exposures may be above the 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit or the short term exposure limit:  a) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, did not ensure effective information and training regarding methylene chloride was provided to employees, who were exposed to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride which exceeded the short term exposure limit (STEL), while engaged in paint stripping operations using Benco B-17 Industrial Paint Remover.

Issued

Dec 27, 2021

Abate by

Mar 14, 2022

Penalty

Initial $2,340 · Current $1,170 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) On or about July 26, 2021, and at times prior, the employer, Colorwerks, LLC, had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program so as to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, methylene chloride, phenol, formic acid, hydrogen fluoride, and sodium hydroxide.