OSHA Inspection: COLUMBIA CHUTES LLC

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,144 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 02900689073115201523

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:   a) Facility wide - On or about May 3, 2022, the employer did not develop and implement a hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals;  2) Safety data sheet availability;  3) Training of employees;  4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace;  5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards on non-routine tasks; and  6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of safety data sheet availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.   Employees were exposed to hazardous materials such as, but not limited to, Carpenter 304 Stainless Steel Sheet, Daubert Chemical Company Coating 932, and Prostar S-6 welding wire.

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 02900689152015231620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):  The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s).  a) Facility wide - On or about May 3, 2022, the employer did not maintain copies of the required safety data sheets for Daubert Chemical 932 Coating (contains petroleum asphalt), 304 Stainless Steel Sheet (contains iron, chromium, & manganese), and Prostar S-6 welding wire (contains iron) and ensure that they were readily accessible to affected employees.

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 06890731152015231620

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) Facility wide - On or about May 3, 2022 the employer did not ensure employees were trained on the hazards associated with welding  and metal cutting fume and the location and availability of safety data sheets.  Affected employees were, thereby, exposed to illnesses associated with hexavalent chromium inhalation and skin contact, such as skin, eye, and lung damage, and exposure to illnesses associated with manganese inhalation, such as neurological damage and neurobehavioral disorder.

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  a) Facility wide - On or about May 3, 2022, the employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).  a) Welding stations 1 & 2 - On or about May 3, 2022 & May 17, 2022, the employer permitted employees to use their own 3M Adflo Powered Air Purifying Respirator HE Systems with 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100 FXs during welding. The employer failed to ensure that those employees were medically fit to wear the respirators and that they were being cleaned, stored, and maintained so that their use did not create additional health hazards.

Issued

Jul 27, 2022

Abate by

Aug 22, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 073115201620

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:   a) Welding stations 1 & 2 - On or about May 3, 2022 & May 17, 2022, the employer permitted two employees to use the own 3M Adflo Powered Air Purifying Respirator HE Systems with 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100 FXs voluntarily during welding. The employer failed to provide information contained in 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard"), thereby, exposing the employees to health hazards related to respirator misuse.