OSHA Inspection: PRIMUS STERILIZER COMPANY INC

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $8,702

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.  Welding shop employees were exposed to respiratory hazards in the welding shop. The employer failed to determine a reasonable estimate of employee exposures and failed to identify the contaminants released during welding operations.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

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.  Employees are exposed to pulmonary hazards and/or cardiac stress hazards when using employer required respirators without having been provided a medical evaluation prior to use. The employer requires welding shop employees to wear 3M N-95 face filtering respirators when welding on 304 stainless steel, 316 L stainless steel, and carbon steel without having been provided medical evaluations prior to respirator use.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator.  Employees are exposed to chemical hazards. The employer requires welding shop employees to wear 3M N-95 face filtering respirators when welding on stainless steels and carbon steel without providing employees a fit test prior to respirator use.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

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:  Employees are exposed to respiratory irritation and chemical hazards. The employer failed to ensure all welding shop employees, required to wear a 3M N-95 respirator, properly store their respirator. Respirators were stored on an employee bench and were not protected from damage, contamination, dust, and deformation.  1)	  A 3M N95 respirator was stored on top of a movable  scaffolding in front of station number 9 and was not protected from welding fumes or particles from stainless steel and carbon steel welding.  2)	  A 3M N95 respirator was stored on top of the bench at station number 7 and was not protected from welding fumes particles from stainless steel and carbon steel welding.  3)	 A 3M Half-Face respirator was stored at the polishing station in the fabrication shop and was not protected from polishing particles.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(3):Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace.  Employees engaged in welding of stainless-steel are exposed to health hazards such as lung cancer, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, etc. Employees required to use a respirator had not received training on how to properly use a respirator.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $10,151

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average.  On November 23, 2021, four welding shop employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium related health hazards when exposure levels were above the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5ug of hexavalent chromium per cubic meter of air:  1)	Employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	Employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	Employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	Employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(f)(1)(i):Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit.  Welding shop employees were exposed hexavalent chromium related health hazards when exposure levels were above the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5ug of hexavalent chromium per cubic meter of air and engineering controls were inadequate to reduce exposure to or below the PEL:  1)	Employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	Employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	Employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	Employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $10,151

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)  Welding shop employees were exposed chromium (VI) related health hazards during stainless steel welding operations. Exposure levels were above the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5ug of chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air and the employer failed to evaluate 8-hour TWA to chromium (VI) for each employee exposure to chromium (VI).  1)	Employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	Employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	Employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	Employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(e)(1):The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) was, or could reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit.  Welding shop employees were exposed chromium (VI) related health hazards. The employer failed to establish regulated areas when employees were or could reasonably be expected to be exposed to levels above the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5ug of chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air:  1)	On November 23, 2021, employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	On November 23, 2021, employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	On November 23, 2021, employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	On November 23, 2021, employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A):The employer did not make medical surveillance available for all employees who were or could be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year.  Welding shop employees were exposed chromium (VI) related health hazards when exposure levels were above the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5ug of chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. The employer failed to provide medical surveillance for all employees exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 days or more:  1)	On November 23, 2021, employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	On November 23, 2021, employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	On November 23, 2021, employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	On November 23, 2021, employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $5,801

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1): The employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there was exposure to chromium (VI) were provided with information and training as required by the Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200:  Welding shop employees were exposed chromium (VI) related health hazards. The employer failed to provide training in accordance with the Hazard Communication Standard for all employees who were exposed to chromium (VI):  1)	Employee #1 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 19 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 95 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 2)	Employee #2 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 14 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 3)	Employee #3 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 2 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 10 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air. 4)	Employee #4 performed welding on stainless steel and was exposed to chromium (VI) 1.8 times the PEL. The employee's 8-hour TWA exposure was 9 ug chromium (VI) per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(2): The employer did not ensure that employees could demonstrate knowledge of the contents of this section and the purpose of medical surveillance; and in addition the employer did not make a copy of this section available without cost to all affected employees:  Employees were exposed to chromium (VI) health hazards during stainless steel welding.  Hazard Communication training was not provided to employees nor were employees evaluated to determine their knowledge of hazards related Hexavalent Chromium and the purpose of medical surveillance.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · 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.  Employees in the welding shop were exposed to chemicals when using unlabeled chemical containers. An unlabeled spray bottle containing Weld-Kleen 350 Anti-Splatter was found shop benches. Oleic acid is present in Weld-Kleen 350 Anti-Splatter. Exposure to Oleic acid could result in temporary irritation on eyes it gets in contact.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $1,450 · Current $870 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.33(a): The employer did not maintain the OSHA 300 log, the privacy case list, the annual summary  and the OSHA 301 Incident Report forms for five (5) years following the end of the calendar year that those records covered.  On or about November 22, 2021 the employer did not document and maintain the injuries and illnesses from workplace.

Issued

Apr 21, 2022

Abate by

May 17, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:  On or about November 22, 2021, the employer did not certify in writing that a hazard assessment was completed. Employees including, but not limited to, those in the welding shop were provided personal protective equipment to include welding helmet, leather gloves, welding apron, respiratory protection, and protective footwear.