OSHA Inspection: ASPEN REFRIGERANTS INC.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $10,360

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees from entrapment or struck-by  hazards:    a) Receiving/ Shipping Area Near Laboratory:  On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by and crush hazards from tip overs, in that seatbelts were not utilized when operating equipment such as, but not limited to, a Crown propane sit-down fork truck (Model:C51000-50, S/N: 10054579, #604089).

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,431 · Current $12,431

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in CFR 1910.6:   a) Facility-wide: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, employees were exposed to struck-by and/or fire hazards, in that the employer failed to ensure that compressed gases, such as but not limited to, refrigerants: R-22, HFC-227, R-113, R-227 and R-218, etc. were properly stored. Employees who worked in the proximity to unsecured gas cylinders were not protected should the cylinders fall or be struck-by a powered industrial vehicle and become a projectile.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

Apr 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,360 · Current $10,360

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:   a) Laboratory: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respiratory hazards associated with cryogenic liquids, in that the employer failed to evaluate the respiratory hazards in the laboratory areas where employees were required to use, store, service, and/or maintain the company's 230 liter capacity liquid nitrogen cylinders.  b) Cold Room Storage Area: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respiratory hazards associated with cryogenic liquids, in that the employer failed to evaluate the respiratory hazards in the storage cold room where employees were required to use, store, service, and/or maintain the company's 230 liter capacity liquid nitrogen cylinders.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $8,287

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not adequately developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  a) Entire Facility: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to thermal, electrical, struck-by and caught-in hazards, in that the employer did not adequately develop specific LOTO procedures for employees working on equipment such as, but not limited to, the Galiso Recertification Equipment: (Galiso Wet Jacket -Model# RSP-1DA, S/N RSP-1202-0223A; Galiso Direct Expansion- Model# RSP-1DA-DE, S/N RSP 1202-0224A; Inverter; compressor; etc.).

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  (a) Entire Facility: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to thermal, electrical, struck-by and caught-in hazards, in that the employer did not conduct a review of the LOTO procedures for employees working on equipment such as, but not limited to, Galiso Recertification Equipment: (Galiso Wet Jacket -Model# RSP-1DA, S/N RSP-1202-0223A; Galiso Direct Expansion- Model# RSP-1DA-DE, S/N RSP 1202-0224A; Inverter; compressor; etc.), on an annual basis.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $8,287

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i): The employer did not provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:   (a) Entire Facility: On or about 10/06/2021, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to thermal, electrical, struck-by and caught-in hazards, in that the employer did not provide authorized or affected employee training before employees performed servicing or maintenance on facility and production equipment including, but not limited to, Galiso Recertification Equipment (Galiso Wet Jacket -Model# RSP-1DA, S/N RSP-1202-0223A; Galiso Direct Expansion- Model# RSP-1DA-DE, S/N RSP 1202-0224A; Inverter; compressor; etc.).

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $6,215

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a) Laboratory Area: On or about 10/06/2021, and times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical burns, in that there were no quick drenching or flushing facilities available for employees working with corrosive chemicals such as, but not limited to, nitric acid (pH < 1.0) and potassium hydroxide (pH 13.5).

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $8,287

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):   a) Facility-wide: On or about 10/06/2021 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards, in that powered industrial truck operators were not trained and evaluated before operating the Crown Propane Sit-Down Fork Truck - Model: C51000-50, S/N: 10021300 and Crown Propane Sit-Down Fork Truck - Model: C51000-50, S/N: 10054579 to transport cylinders.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,287 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(p)(1):Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been  taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s)  a) Shipping/ Receiving Area: On or about 10/06/2021 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards, in that employees were allowed to operate powered industrial trucks with defective seat belts, including but not limited to, Crown Propane Sit-Down Fork Truck - Model: C51000-50, S/N: 10021300, Vehicle no.: Unknown.  b) Shipping/ Receiving Area near laboratory: On or about 10/06/2021 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards, in that employees were allowed to operate powered industrial trucks with defective seat belts, including but not limited to, Crown Propane Sit-Down Fork Truck - Model: C51000-50, S/N: 10054579, Vehicle no.: 604089.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

Apr 28, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $6,215

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): 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 information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v)   a) Production Area Near Holding Tank: On or before 10/06/2021, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that appropriate labels and/or hazard warnings were not placed on secondary drums and totes of used oil and absorbents.

Issued

Apr 4, 2022

Abate by

May 19, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,215 · Current $6,215

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) Laboratory and Cold Storage Room: On or before 10/06/2021, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards, in that employees were not trained on the hazards of chemicals such as  but not limited to liquid nitrogen.