OSHA Inspection: AKRON FOUNDRY COMPANY

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,516 · Current $6,000 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:]  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, the employer did not implement and administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise exceeding the 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels:   a) On September 27, 2021, a furnace tender, operating a furnace and performing various tasks in the facility was exposed to continuous noise levels at 82.73% of the allowable time-weighted average (TWA) sound action level of 85.0 dBA during the 412 minutes sampling period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 68 minutes not measured.  b) On September 27, 2021, a grinder, operating a vertical belt grinder, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 110.0% of the allowable time-weighted average (TWA) sound action level of 85.0 dBA. during the 441 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 39 minutes not measured.   Elements of an effective hearing conservation program include:  1) Monitoring of employee noise exposure;  2) The institution of engineering, work practice and administrative controls for excessive noise;  3) The provision of each overexposed employee with an individually fitted hearing protector with an adequate noise reduction rating;  4) Employee training and education regarding noise hazards and protection measures;  5) Baseline and annual audiometry;  6) Procedures for preventing further occupational hearing loss by an employee whenever such an event has been identified;  7) Record keeping

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,516 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, the employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed when employees required the use of personal protective equipment such as, hearing protection when exposed to hazardous noise levels, flame resistant coats and flame resistant gloves when exposed to thermal hazards from molten metal, and eye and face protection when grinding metal parts.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, the employer did not  ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protect when exposed to eye or face hazard from metal dust and particles when grinding metal parts.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,516 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(n)(4): Industrial truck driver(s) were not required to travel with the load trailing whenever the load obstructed forward view:  On or about September 28, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, in the main foundry area,  an employee operating propane powered Toyota Forklift Truck, SN(64197) was not required to travel with the load trailing whenever the load obstructed the forward view. The truck was carrying an empty metal container.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $4,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(d)(2)(i): The employer using the scheduled monitoring option did not perform initial monitoring to determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to chromium (VI) for each employee on the basis of a sufficient number of personal breathing zone air samples to accurately characterize full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:   On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, in the main foundry area, the employer failed to perform initial monitoring to determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure to chromium (VI) for each employee when employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen generated while performing oven operations. The stainless steel forms had a chromium component.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,655 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not address at least the following hazards with employees exposed to hexavalent chromium: Cancer, eye irritation, and skin sensitization:   On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave.., Akron, OH 44314, in the facility, the employer failed to address cancer, eye irritation and skin sensitization hazards with employees exposed to hexavalent chromium while performing furnace tender operations.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(2)(i)(A): The employer did not provide appropriate information and training for all employees exposed to chromium (VI), in that employees could not demonstrate knowledge of the contents of the Chromium (VI) standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026:  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, in the facility, the employer failed to provide information and training for all employees exposed to chromium (VI), in that employees could not demonstrate knowledge of the contents of the Chromium (VI) standard when employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium while performing furnace tender operations.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(1)(iii): The employer had not included chromium (VI) in the hazard communication program, established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, ensured that each employee had access to labels on containers of chromium (VI) and to safety data sheets, and was trained in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard and 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2), including the contents of the Hexavalent Chromium Standard, the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program, and made copies of this standard available to all affected employees:    On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, the employer failed to incorporate hexavalent chromium into their hazard communication program , including provisions to  inform and train employees on the hexavalent chromium standard  and hazards associated with this chemical.   Employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium while performing furnace tender operations.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,792 · Current $6,000

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:  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, the employer did not ensure that two Industrial Pneumatic Lathes, both with open basins which held metalworking fluid on the left side of the machines, was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof.  The reservoir was reported to contain SS522, which contained 2-aminoethanol, a skin and respiratory irritant.

Issued

Dec 20, 2021

Abate by

Feb 8, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not make a copy of the Chromium (VI) standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026, readily available to all employees who were exposed to chromium (VI):  On or about August 5, 2021, at the location of 2728 Wingate Ave., Akron, OH 44314, in the main foundry area, the employer did not provide a copy of the hexavalent chromium standard readily available to all employees who were exposed to chromium (VI).