OSHA Inspection: COMMUNITY ECO PITTSFIELD, LLC

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,252 Reduced

Hazardous substances 026004901591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that  employees required to use a tight-fitting respirator were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, and at least annually thereafter:   a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:   On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not perform fit tests on all employees required to wear respirators, prior to initial use and at least annually thereafter.  Employees were required to wear half-face and full-face elastomeric respirators to protect from exposure to airborne ash which is known to contain lead, cadmium, arsenic and other hazardous materials.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,252 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1018(k)(1):All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of inorganic arsenic:  a.) Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA:    On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of inorganic arsenic-containing ash.  Surface ash accumulation, up to 2 inches in depth, was detected on pallets of hydrated lime bags and near combustion units.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

May 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(h)(1): All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:   Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA: On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:  a.) Surface lead-containing ash accumulation, up to 2 inches in depth, was detected on pallets of hydrated lime bags and near combustion units. b.) Surface lead contamination was detected on the counter by the microwave in the lunchroom.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

May 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0490

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(k)(1): Surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium:   Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA: On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium:  a.) Surface cadmium-containing ash accumulation, up to 2 inches in depth, was detected on pallets of hydrated lime bags and near combustion units. b.) Surface cadmium contamination was detected on the counter by the microwave in the lunchroom.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · Current $2,244 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1)(i):The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheets:  a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:   On or about November 4, 2021, and at times prior, the employer did not compile a complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace.  Multiple hazardous chemicals were omitted from the chemical inventory in the facility, including hydrated lime and sodium bicarbonate.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:  a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:   On or about November 4, 2021, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals was labeled with the identity of the hazardous chemicals contained.  The lime hopper is labeled as Quicklime instead of Hydrated Lime.  The hydrated lime used is composed of calcium hydroxide and crystalline silica.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:   On or about November 4, 2021, and at times prior, the employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical used.  The safety data sheet for multiple hazardous chemicals were omitted, including hydrated lime and sodium bicarbonate.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

Apr 4, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $4,252 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0490

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(j)(4)(ii):The employer did not ensure that employees did not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment without the surface cadmium being removed from the clothing and equipment by HEPA vacuuming or some other method that removes cadmium dust without dispersing it:  a.) Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Avenue, Pittsfield, MA:    On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees remove surface cadmium from clothing and equipment by using a HEPA vacuum or other method to remove cadmium without dispersing it.  Employees were provided a household Craftsman vacuum, that did not have a HEPA filter, to remove surface cadmium from clothes, prior to entering the lunch room.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Abate by

May 2, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(iv):The employer did not certify that employee training had been accomplished and kept up to date:  a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:  On or about November 4, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not certify in writing that employee training on control of hazardous energy procedures had been performed and kept up to date.  While cleaning under combustion units, employees are required to control and isolate the hydraulic energy of the sliding rams to protect from combustion debris which may fall from the combustor above.

Issued

Feb 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1018(e)(2): Initial monitoring was not performed for each workplace, or work operation covered by 29 CFR 1910.1018 to accurately determine the airborne concentration of inorganic arsenic to which employees may be exposed:  a.)  Community Eco Power at 500 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA:  On or about October 16, 2021 and at times prior, the employer did not perform initial monitoring to determine employee exposure to airborne inorganic arsenic. Employees working throughout the facility are exposed to airborne ash which contains inorganic arsenic.