OSHA Inspection: SPECIAL TESTING LABORATORIES, INC.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,061 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not 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.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not create a written certification verifying a workplace hazard assessment was performed for activities such as (but not limited to) using molten Sulphur capping compound.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not provide training to the laboratory technician who uses safety glasses, face shield, welding gloves, and arm protectors while performing tasks such as (but not limited to) using the Sulfur capping compound.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,061 Reduced

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.  Concrete Laboratory: On or about December 16, 2021, the employer did not establish and implement the necessary elements of a written respiratory protection program for voluntary use where employees were provided 3M half face respirators during work tasks such as (but not limited to) using the sulfur capping compound.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $4,061 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):The employer did not develop, implement, 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.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not develop a written hazard communication program for employees who were exposed to hazardous chemicals during tasks such as (but not limited to) using sulfur capping compound.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not provide effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in the work area during tasks such as (but not limited to) handling sulfur capping compound and creating concrete dust during dry sweeping, drilling, and cleaning the wet saw reservoir.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function  Concrete Laboratory: On or about December 16, 2021, the concrete lab manager wore a half face respirator with a visually excessive amount of facial hair which came between most of the sealing surface of the facepiece during tasks such as (but not limited to) using the sulfur capping compound.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(h)(1):The employer allowed dry sweeping or dry brushing where such activity could contribute to employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica and wet sweeping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure were feasible.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not provide wet sweeping or HEPA-filtered vacuuming methods to employees who perform tasks such as (but not limited to) floor dry sweeping of concrete debris and dry brushing of concrete debris from tabletops and the concrete wet saw area.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(3)(i)(A): The employer did not ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  Concrete Laboratory: The employer did not provide any training on silica health hazards to theworkers who perform tasks such as (but not limited to) floor dry sweeping of concrete debris and removal of fine concrete debris the concrete wet saw area.