OSHA Inspection: UNIVERSAL METRICS, LLC

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

May 9, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,396 · Current $4,808 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 paragraphs (c) through (o) of 29 CFR 1910.95, whenever employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent:  On or about August 17, 2021, and days prior, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement the hearing conservation program to include monitoring to identify employees for inclusion into the  program, audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and hearing conservation training.  (a) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing manual and automated welding operations at booth #1 was exposed to noise at 63.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 86.5dBA, as measured over 495 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 86.7dBA accounting for the period of 15 additional minutes monitored.   (b) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #5 was exposed to noise at 52.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 85.3dBA, as measured over 483 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 85.4dBA accounting for the period of 3 additional minutes monitored.  (c) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #7 was exposed to noise at 73.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.1dBA, as measured over 455 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.8dBA accounting for the period of 25 minutes unmonitored.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

May 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  On or about August 17, 2021, and days prior, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place with the element of employee monitoring for inclusion.  (a) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing manual and automated welding operations at booth #1 was exposed to noise at 63.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 86.5dBA, as measured over 495 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 86.7dBA accounting for the period of 15 additional minutes monitored.   (b) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #5 was exposed to noise at 52.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 85.3dBA, as measured over 483 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 85.4dBA accounting for the period of 3 additional minutes monitored.  (c) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #7 was exposed to noise at 73.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.1dBA, as measured over 455 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.8dBA accounting for the period of 25 minutes unmonitored.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

May 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On or about August 17, 2021, and days prior, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without ensuring audiometric testing was done for each employee covered under the hearing conservation program in order to detect any instances of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).  (a) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing manual and automated welding operations at booth #1 was exposed to noise at 63.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 86.5dBA, as measured over 495 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 86.7dBA accounting for the period of 15 additional minutes monitored.   (b) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #5 was exposed to noise at 52.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 85.3dBA, as measured over 483 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 85.4dBA accounting for the period of 3 additional minutes monitored.  (c) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #7 was exposed to noise at 73.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.1dBA, as measured over 455 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.8dBA accounting for the period of 25 minutes unmonitored.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

May 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels. The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in a program.  On or about August 17, 2021, and days prior, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program that included training (both annual and initial) to inform employees about the effects of noise on hearing, hearing protectors, and audiometric testing.   (a) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing manual and automated welding operations at booth #1 was exposed to noise at 63.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 86.5dBA, as measured over 495 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 86.7dBA accounting for the period of 15 additional minutes monitored.   (b) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #5 was exposed to noise at 52.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 85.3dBA, as measured over 483 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 85.4dBA accounting for the period of 3 additional minutes monitored.  (c) On August 17, 2021, an employee performing welding operations at booth #7 was exposed to noise at 73.9% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.1dBA, as measured over 455 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.8dBA accounting for the period of 25 minutes unmonitored.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Mar 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,629 · Current $4,746 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.  (a) On or about August 17, 2021, no documentation existed to confirm that forklift operators had been trained in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii). New employees were not given any formal instruction prior to operating the forklift.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(2)(iii): Operators training and evaluation was not conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence:  (a) On or about August 17, 2021, an employee who was not certified to train or had the  competent knowledge to instruct and evaluate forklift drivers, was tasked to perform forklift operator operation evaluations.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l): The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.  (a) On or about August 17, 2021, no certifications or records were present at the facility to indicate that fork truck operators had been trained and evaluated on the facility specific forklifts.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

May 9, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,698 · Current $2,219 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) On or about August 17, 2021, employees were not trained on the company Hazardous Communication program and the hazardous chemicals exposed to within the work environment. Specifically, welders that perfom welding on Stainless steel, were not made aware of the hazards of Hexavalent Chrome (Chrome IV).

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Mar 11, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):  The employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s).   (a)	On or about August 17, 2021, employees in the welding bay area were unable to locate the safety data sheets for their work area.  (b)	On or about October 7, 2021, and days prior, second-shift employees were not able to access safety data sheets (SDS), in-that the safety data sheets are located in the HR Director's office, and inaccessible to second-shift employees when it is locked or otherwise restricted.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Aug 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,698 · Current $2,219 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):  (a) On or about August 9, 2021 and days prior, welding employees in the welding bay area performed welding and fitting operations on stainless steel materials without the employer performing initial exposure monitoring for each employee exposed. This exposure determination was not conducted in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2), the scheduled monitoring option, or paragraph (d)(3), the performance-oriented option.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $246 · Current $0 Reduced

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.  (a) On or about August 5, 2021, in the welding bay area, employees used spray bottles containing anti-spatter or soap solution. The spray bottles were not labelled with content identity, pictograms, or warnings of hazards.    Universal Metrics, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1468034, citation number 1, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 8-18-2020, with respect to a workplace located at N93W14475 Whittaker Way.