OSHA Inspection: GLOBAL WATER TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,324 · Current $4,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  a.	On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, the employer had not performed a personal protective equipment assessment, which had identified and assessed all the hazards necessitating the use of personal protective equipment.  Employee exposures included, but was not limited to sodium hydroxide, ammonia and 2-diethylaminoethanol.

Issued

Apr 6, 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:  a.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees were provided and required to utilize various gloves and eye protection were not trained to know at least the following:        1.  What PPE is necessary.       2.  When PPE is necessary.        3.  How to properly don, doff, adjust and wear the PPE.      4. The limitations of PPE.        5.  The proper care, maintenance useful life and disposal of the PPE.    Employee exposures included, but were not limited to, sodium hydroxide, ammonia and 2-diethylaminoethanol.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,594 · Current $2,750 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.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees were required to wear air purifying respiratory protection when transferring chemicals.  The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, which included worksite specific procedures, thereby exposing employee to hazards including, but not limited to ammonia and 2-diethylaminoethanol.  The respiratory protection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations; fit testing; procedures for proper use in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, storing, inspecting, repairing and discarding respirators; employee training regarding respiratory hazards they are exposed to, proper uses and limitations of respirators; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the respirator program.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Abate by

May 23, 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.��On or�about January 28, 2022,�in the facility, the employer�had not�ensured that�each employee�required to wear tight fitting air-purifying respirators�had been�provided with�a medical�evaluation.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Abate by

May 23, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   a.	On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees were required to wear tight fitting air-purifying respirators.  The employer did not ensure employees were provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of  the respirator(s), thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with hazardous materials including, but not limited to ammonia and 2-diethylaminoethanol.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Abate by

May 23, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of the requirements listed in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through (k)(1)(vii):  a.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees were provided with and required to wear tight fitting air-purifying respirators for exposure to chemicals including, but not limited to, ammonia and 2-diethylaminoethanol.  The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of the required training elements of the standard including, but not limited to, why respiratory protection is necessary, factors that compromise protection, proper fit, proper use, limitations and capabilities, change schedules, emergency use, inspection, maintenance and/or storage, general requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134, and how to recognize medical signs and symptoms.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,458 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(a)(4):Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:    a.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees operating Komatsu powered industrial vehicle Model #FG30H1-12, Serial #565615A were exposed to struck by hazards.  A modification was made to remove the load backrest without the manufacturer's prior written approval.  b.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees operating Toyota powered industrial vehicle Model #8FGCU25, Serial #45833 were exposed to struck by hazards.  A modification was made to remove the load backrest without the manufacturer's prior written approval.  c.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees operating Doosan powered industrial vehicle Model #G25E-5, Serial #FGA08-1790-06135 were exposed to struck by hazards.  A modification was made to remove the load backrest without the manufacturer's prior written approval.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $11,188 · Current $6,500 Reduced

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.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the facility, employees�were required to operate powered industrial vehicles.� The employees were not�provided with�training on�the safe�operation of�the powered�industrial vehicles�thereby exposing�employees to�struck by�and crushing�hazards.

Issued

Apr 6, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(e)(1):Cabinets, cutout boxes, fittings, boxes, and panelboard enclosures in damp or wet locations were not installed to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the enclosures:    a.  On or about January 28, 2022, in the center of warehouse 354, the emergency safety shower and eyewash was located adjacent to an electrical box which was not installed to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the enclosure.  In the event of an emergency, employees would be exposed to potential electrocution hazard if the water produced from the safety shower or eye wash entered the electrical box.