OSHA Inspection: P & M STEEL COMPANY

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $3,481 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(2):The interior surfaces of spray booths were not smooth and continuous without edges and otherwise designed to prevent pocketing of residues and facilitate cleaning and washing without injury.  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that the interior wall surfaces of the auxiliary building where spray finishing with flammable chemicals was performed,  the paint shed, consisted of corrugated panels that impeded cleaning and washing. Visible overspray was present on the wall paneling at the time of the inspection. This condition exposed one employee to fire hazards related to unmitigated overspray that may propagate on wall panels.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(9):Spray booths were not installed so that all portions were readily accessible for cleaning:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that products stands located on both sides of the spray shed impeded access to the floor to accommodate cleaning for removal of overspray and paint residue. Visible overspray and paint residue had accumulated under both product stands in the paint shed. This condition exposed one employee to fire hazards related to unmitigated overspray that may accumulate on the paint shed floor.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(c)(2):Open flame or spark producing equipment was not kept from a spraying area nor within 20 feet, unless separated from by a partition:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that Lennox natural gas heater was located in the vicinity of finishing application of a flammable chemical. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.   (b)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that multiple cigarettes were observed on the floor of the paint shed, at times located in overspray and paint residue. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(e)(2):The quantity of flammable or combustible liquids kept in the vicinity of spraying operations were not at the minimum required for operations or they exceeded a supply for one day or one shift.  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that flammable chemicals, in excess a supply for one day, were stored in the paint shed. These chemicals included but were not limited to KEM 400 Primer, Sierra White Strippable Booth Coat and  Xylene. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(g)(2):All spraying areas were not kept as free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues as practical, with cleaning conducted daily if necessary:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 N Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that the interior surfaces were kept clean free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residue in the paint shed. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 16, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(5)(i):There were no visible gauges, audible alarms or pressure activated devices installed in paint spray booths to indicate or ensure that the required air speed was maintained:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from fire hazards in that the paint shed did not have any devices to indicate or ensure that the required air speed was maintained. This condition exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Mar 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · Current $2,611 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 N Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from chemical hazards and hazards related to respiratory use in that the company did not implement a written respiratory protection program covering employees required to use respiratory protection when performing work. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards and hazards related to respiratory use.  Abatement Note:  The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  (1)          Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  (2)          Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;  (3)          Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;  (4)          Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;  (5)          Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;  (6)          Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;  (7)          Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;  (8)          Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and  (9)          Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Mar 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1):The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from hazards related to respiratory protection use in that the employees were not provided a medical evaluation prior to required use of respiratory protection. This condition exposed employees to hazards related to use of respiratory protection.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Mar 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from chemical hazards and hazards in that employees required to wear respiratory protection were not provided a fit test prior to being required to use respiratory protection when performing spray finishing. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.

Issued

Jan 21, 2022

Abate by

Feb 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(h)(2)(i):Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  (a)P & M Steel Company at 4401 North Westport Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD 57107: On or about and at times prior to October 28, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from chemical hazards in that the employer did not ensure respirators were appropriately stored when not in use.  This condition exposed one employee to chemical hazards.